'Yi^IL]E«'¥]MII¥IEI^SflTnf«

THE

HISTORY

O F

ROXBURY TOWN.

BY CHARLES M. ELLIS.

BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL G. DRAKE.
1847.

>7' ^o
Entered according to Act of Congress, iu the year 1847,
^ By Charles M. Eliis,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

H. Mann, Printer, Dedham, Mass.

PART I.
THE EARLY HISTORY OFjTHE TOWN.

NOTICE.
Another volume will complete the history of the Town, down
to the date of the City Charter. The object has been, in this, to
give the Early History. But no distinct line of division can be
drawn. Much matter has necessarily been reserved for the ap
pendix which will be added to the second part. The plan of the
work has been, in order to secure for it the only merits such an
one can ever have, accuracy and completeness. The materials
that exist for gaining these ends are so much scattered, they are
so often found where no one could have supposed they existed,
that no diligence could ferret them out ; but they are glad
ly furnished when it is known that use can be made of them.
Since the last pages of the manuscript were sent to press, I
have to acknowledge the receipt of several valuable communica
tions. Any such is a great favor. It is my hope that all who
can procure me access to materials that will aid in completing or
correcting the account of the Town, will do so, so that the ends
of this work will be secured.
C. M. ELLIS.
January 8, 1848.

HISTORY OF ROXBURY.

CHAPTER I.
Introduction. — Sources of the History of the Toivn.
The object of a town history is to gather up and
record family, local, village details. Part are those of
every day life. Part belong to general history, but
are so minute or multitudinous as to escape its grasp.
Yet all history is made up of these, and each, and the
group of each town, may illustrate it, as the life of
each man will give some insight into the spirit of his
time. There is an interest attached to these accounts
of small places, of the same sort as that which is ex
cited by the biography of an individual. We like to
know the motives, reasons and method of a man's ac
tion, as every child wishes to see a watch opened.
In general men care less for the result, however great,
than for the petty moving causes in operation. And
the idea that each man is a wheel in the great ma
chine, weighs more with men than they think. But,
after all, the chief interest attached to these matters
is of a very different sort, and, if this were the place,

6 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
it might be shown to be somewhat rational and not
altogether useless, apart from all historical specula
tion. We love to know the origin of those we spring
from, what they did, how they dressed, labored and
worshipped. Most men have local attachment so
strong that it invests some spot, endeared by associa
tion, with controlling interest. The old church, the
old homestead, the old school, or something of the
sort, bring back dear recollections to every man, and
he will find pleasure in all that relates thereto.
I have endeavored to collect here such facts as may
gratify these natural feelings, and such as may illus
trate history, without pretending to assume its digni
ty, or be more than the incidents in the life of a little
town. There is in the town, in the records and papers of
the town, church and school, much new matter, though
they are very meagre in many respects. The Town
Records for the first few years are imperfect. They
begin with a half obliterated and worn out memoran
dum of four lines, about the garrison, of a date seven
teen years after the settlement, (1647.) Then fol
lows a memorandum of the choice of the Captain,
Lieut, and three brethren to " order town affairs,"
and an order for an allotment of lands and salaries
without any date — then a vote appointing a commit
tee to repair the church and also assessors, then a
vote conferring powers somewhat plenary, viz : that
" these men shall have for ye present year, full power
to make and execute such orders as they in their ap
prehension shall think to be conducive to the good of
the town" — theiv a much mutilated page about dig-

Part I.J history oi' roxbur\ . 7
ging "rocks" and stones out of the highway — theu a
meeting at brother Johnsons, about the Synod's act —
then some old scraps from the fire act laying a fine of
8 and 12 pence on such as have not ladders to give
ready passage to the tops of the houses in case of fire.
These are all, down to the year 1662.
From that time the records have been regularly
kept. The earlier ones however are meagre and im
perfect. The earliest have no attestation. Then
down to 1666, they are attested by the five men. In
1666 a Town clerk was first chosen, but he merely
wrote the records without attesting them. The first
signature by the clerk is that of Edward Dorr in
1717. There is a tradition that the old records of the
town were a long while ago burned up, or else de
stroyed in the revolution. The dates have got a lit
tle confused. But so it is that in the lapse of few
generations, it has become uncertain whether this
event was seventy years or two centuries ago. One
tradition is that the first records of the town were
burnt when the second meeting house was burnt
down. Men expressed a doubt, in speaking of it,
whether they were ever destroyed. But I think it
quite certain that the earliest records were destroyed
by fire, in 1645.
Under the date of 1652 there is entry which can
be partially decyphered although the edges are gone.
'•The towne booke wherein most mens lands being wrote 
Gods providence being burned thereby much dammedg may 
to  all men, to prevent dammedg as aforesayd 
dered by the town of Roxbury that there shall be five 

HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.

be chosen to do their best in order to set down 
land given them by the town or that may belong 
thence other ways to make returne unto y-e towne 
three month, as far as this may be accomplished for the-

 of dammedg as aforesayd & alsoe to record hie ways and
other town privileges. 17 of 11 mo 1652."
The Transcript, as it is called, was finished and
certified in 1654.
In Eliot's petition to the General Court June 20,
1669, for a renewal and confirmation of the school
charter, it is recited that "our first book and charter
were burned in ye burning of John Johnsons house
and by reason of the death of sundry of the donors
and the alienation of the tenements we are under
this defect that some of the names of the donors are
not unto this 2d book personally which were to the
first." The second book and agreement are still preserved
and bear date "the last of August 1645."
In John Eliot's diary [which will be referred to] is
this record, viz :
"1645. Toward ye end of ye 1st month (called
March) there happened, by God's providence a very
dreadful fire in Roxbury streete. None knoweth how
it was kindled, but being a fierce wind it suddenly
prevailed. And in this man's house was a good part
of ye county magazine of powder of 17 or 18 bar
rels which made ye people that none durst come to
save ye house or goods till it was blown up &. by that
time ye fire had taken ye barns & outhouses (which
were many & great) so that none were, saved. In
this fire were strong observations of God's provi
dence, to ye neighbours and towne, for ye wind at

Part 1.] history of roxbury. 9
first stood to carry ye fire to other howses but sud
denly turned it from all other howses only carrying it
to ye out houses & barns thereby.
And it was a fierce wind &, thereby drave ye ele
ment back from ye neighbors howses which in a
calm time would, by ye great heate have been set on
fire. But above all ye preservation of all people from
hurt & other howses from fire at ye blowing up of ye
powder, many living in great danger yet none hurt &
sundry howses set on fire by ye blow, but all
quenched, thro God's mercy in christ."
Considering therefore that the early records were
all kept for one body, that those of the school, and
those having the records of lands were both burned
and that the Town Records prior to the time of this
fire are not in existence, there can be little doubt
that they were also burnt up. Probably the "old
Towne Booke" named in the note respecting the
Transcript, contained the whole respecting titles, the
schoole and the towne, and the petition some twenty
years after the fire was caused by some question
arising respecting the charter or the agreement of
the school.
The '¦^Ancient Transcript^'' is an ancient book
which contains a list of the lands owned by the re
spective inhabitants. This record is of great value iii
tracing the titles of individuals. The present book
is probably not the first bat a copy made about 1666
to 1670 by Goodman Denison.
At the end of this volume is what appears to have
been part of another older book bound up with it, in
2

10 HISTORY OF ROXBl/RY. [PaRT I.
which is a memorandum that it was "bought in 1639
& paid for by Vote of Town, fower shillings for entry
therein of weighty business."
I discovered one loose leaf in this volume, of great
interest. A particular account of this leaf will be
given in another connection. The Town Register
of births, marriages and deaths, seems to have been
copied up to 1654 in one hand. Very likely by Mr.
Dudley. From 1690 to 1706, entries have also been
copied into this volume from small paper books kept
by the clerk.
•There is a volume kept by the clergyman of the
first church which, in its strange medley, has records
of interest. It has often been referred to. It is val
uable for its records of matters belonging to town
and family histories. It contains a receipt for making
ink — an anagram on Mrs. Tomson — Harvard memo
rial — ^laws as to fashions, particularly the long hair
which was an abomination to round heads — certain
propositions concerning church membership, baptism,
&c. — a list of church members from the formation of
the church to 1775 — a record of the baptisms and
deaths from 1644 to 1750 — a diary from 1642 to
1677 — a record of the pastors of the church, and
some parish votes and donations.
The list of church members seems to have been
made sometime after the formation of the church. I
should judge not far from 1650. Besides the dates,
this record contains facts concerning the families of
the first settlers and in many instances accounts of
their characters.
It is said that all the ancient records were burned.

Part I.] history of roxbury. 1 1
and that the inhabitants afterwards came together
and gave in an account of their families, the births,
marriages and deaths, as fully as they could, and
handed in the description of their lands for the Tran
script. The absence of any books prior to the date
of the fire, and the mode in which the oldest records
are made up confirm the tradition. A gentleman of
Roxbury, distinguished for his antiquarian tastes, re
members to have read this account in an anniversary
sermon preached by the first Mr. Walter, who must
have known many of the first settlers. I have not
been able to find any copy of this sermon.
The diary notes the chief events of the day, very
much after the style of the remarkable events in
some of our almanacs. Some of it is trifling, but it
is valuable for verifyijig dates, and chiefly so as illus
trating the character of John Eliot.
The records of the several later parishes and of
the schools contain much that is interesting.
Besides the various records there are many old pa
pers still preserved by members of the older families
of the town, deeds, wills, letters and documents of
one sort and another. Most of these have been
found in old chests in the midst of garret dust and
lumber. No doubt many such have been destroyed
as cumbersome rubbish. Few care for these me
mentos of early days. But some preserve them, and
I am indebted to many for rendering me valuable fa
cilities from such materials for this work. I am
especially indebted to a few, who take an interest in
such matters, and who have raked, out of these old
heaps, things worth preserving.

CHAPTER n.
The first Settlement.
The first settlement of Roxbury was in 1630. It
is possible that some straggling pioneers of the whites
may have been here before. There is no record of
any known. The fact that the emigrants of 1630,
on their arrival, found settlers scattered about the
bay, "some at Dorchester and some on the other side
of the River Charles," that some spots in Roxbury
would be likely to be chosen quite as soon as the
spots that are known to have been inhabited by
whites, and that the colonists would not have been
likely to try to prepare for their first winter in a spot
where there was no sign of a hut or clearing, this
alone leads me to say it is possible that there may
have been some squatters here before them. The
town dates, however, from 1630. Most of its settlers
arrived within a few years from that time. The first
came from England with Winthrop with those who
came over when the Massachusetts charter was
brought over, and a home trading company formed
into a foreign provincial government. Some of them
were signers of the Cambridge agreement of August
26, 1629. That simple writing imported more than

Part I.] msTouv of lutxisuuv. lo
they dreamed, and may now illustrate their charac
ter.

"Upon due consideration of the state of the Plantation now in
hand for New England, wherein we, whose names are hereunto
subscribed, have engaged ourselves, and- having weighed the
greatness of the work in regard of the consequence, God's glory
and the Church's good, as also in regard of the difficulties and
discouragements which in all probabilities must be forecast upon
the prosecution of this business ; considering withal, that this
whole adventure grows upon the joint confidence we have in
each other's fidelity and resolution herein, so as no man of us
would have adventured without assurance of the rest; now for
the better encouragement of ourselves and others that shall join
with us in this action, and to the end that every man may with
out scruple dispose of his estate and affairs as may best fit his
preparation for this voyage ; it is fully and faithfully agreed
amongst us, and every of us doth hereby freely and sincerely
promise and bind himself, on the word of a christian, and in the
presence of God, who is the searcher of all hearts, that we will
so really endeavour the prosecution of this work, as by God's
assistance, we vvill be ready in our persons, and with such of our
several families as are to go with us, and such provision as we
are able conveniently to furnish ourselves withal, to embark for
the said plantation by the first of March next, at such port or
ports of this land as shall be agreed upon by the Company, to
the end to pass the seas (under God's protection) to inhabit and
continue in New England : Provided always, that before the
last of September next, the whole government, together with the
patent for the said plantation, be first, by an order of Court, le
gally transferred and established to remain with us and others
which shall inhabit upon the said Plantation, and provided also,
that if any shall be hindered by any such just and inevitable let
or other cause, to be allowed by three parts of four of these
whose names are hereunto subscribed, then such persons, for
such times, and during such lets to be discharged from this bond.
And we do further promise, every one for himself, that shall fail
to be ready through his own default by the day appointed, to pay

14 history of roxbury. [Part I.
for every day's default the sura of £3, to the use of the rest of
the company who shall be ready by the same day and time.
This was done by order of Court, the 29th of August, 1629.
Richard Saltonstall, Thomas Sharpe,
Thomas Dudley, Increase Nowell,
William Vassall, John Winthrop,
Nicholas West, William Pinchon,
Isaac Johnson, Kellam Browne,
John Humfrey, William Colbron.
The exact date of the arrival of the first settlers of
Roxbury is not known. A large number of vessels
came out in 1630. The first arrived in May, and the
arrivals continued till the fall of the year. The trials
of that season fell heavy. " We found the colony in
a sad and unexpected condition," says Thomas Dud
ley, " above eighty of them being dead the winter
before ; and many of those alive weak and sick ; all
the corn and bread amongst them all hardly sufficient
to feed them a fortnight." Contagious diseases seized
on the emigrants on their voyage that year. When
they arrived they were feeble, sick and dying daily of
fevers and the scurvy. The exposure and hardships
they were forced to endure after landing only multi
plied their affliction. They were so weak that they
could not carry their baggage to the place where they
meant to build a fort and settle together. Having no
tipie to deliberate, being forced to provide some shel
ter before the winter should surprise them, they, dis
persed themselves in small bands about the bay, to
shift as best they might. One of these bands, whose
head is said to have been William Pynchon chose a
place midway between Dorchester and Boston, for
their habitation, a spot two miles from Boston, which

Part I.j history of roxburv. 15
they named Rocksbury and Rocksburie, or Rocks-
brough, Roxbury. This was the origin of the town.
It was probably in June 1630. The first birth re
corded is July 10, 1630, John Crafts, son of Griffin
Crafts. William Pynchon is often spoken of as the founder
of the town. He was one of the most influential
men, and happened to be named first in the records
of the members of the first church. But I see no
reason why he should be called the founder of the
place. In the records he is styled "one of the first
foundation." There were many of as much weight
as he, whether we regard wealth, character, author
ity or energy in the prosecution of the enterprise.
Besides Pynchon we know from the church records
that Thomas Lambe, Robert Cole, William Chase,
George Alcock, Mr. Francis Pynchon, and Thomas
Rawlings were amongst those who came here in
1630, that, in 1631, there arrived Thomas Wakeman,
John Carman, John Eliot, Valentine Prentice, Rich
ard Lyman ; —
In 1632, John Leavins, Margery Hammond, Mar
garet Denison, Wm. Heath, Robert Gamlin, Thomas
Woodforde, William Curtis, Ann Shelly, Rebecca
Short, Mary Blatt, Wm. Hills, Robert Gamlin jr. —
In 1633, John Moody, Nicholas Parker, Philip
Sherman, Thomas Willson, Joshua Hues, Thomas
Hills, John Graves, Elizabeth Hinds, Elizabeth Bal
lard, Margaret Huntingdon ; —
In 1634, John Stow, Abraham Newell; —
In 1635, John Ruggles, John Cheney; —

IL) history of ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
In 1636, Edward Porter, William Vassaile, John
Roberts ; —
In 1637, Thomas Ruggles, William Chandler, Jo
seph Astwood.
There is " A Recorde of such as adjoyned them
selves unto the fellowship of this Church of Christ at
Roxborough ; as also of such children as they had
when they joyned and of such as were borne unto
them under the holy covenant of this church, who are
most properly the seede of this Church."
This record, from the beginning till 1650 has the
names of 301 members, the number of their children
not being included. Most of the names have no date
and the time of their arrival cannot be fixed.
From the interesting gleanings of Mr. Savage, we
learn that the records in England give the names of
some who " imbarqued " in the Hopewell, Master
Wm. Burdick, in April 1635, viz. John Astwood,
husbandman, aged 26 — Jo. Ruggles, 10 — Jo. Rug
gles, shoemaker, 44 — Barbaric Ruggles, uxor, 30 —
Jo. Ruggles, 2 — Elizabeth Elliott, 8 — Giles Payson,
26 — Isaac Morris, 9 — Jo. Bell, 13— Lawrence Whit-
temore, 63 — Elizabeth Whittemore, 57 — Isaac Dis-
brough, 18— -Elizabeth Elliott, 30— Phillip Elliott, 2.
April 29th, in the Elizabeth & Ann, was Richard
Goare, 17.
June 17, in the Abigail, came Richard Graves, 23.
In the Blessing, William Vassall, 42, Margaret
Vassall. In the James, in July, John Johnson, 26.
In the Hopewell, Sep. 11, Isack Heath, harness-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 17
maker, 60 — Elizabeth Heath, 40 — Wm. Lyon, 14 —
Thos. Bull, 25—1? if »ot Bell.]
The dates of the arrivals for the first few years as
given in the church book are very imperfect. There
are many births recorded which show that various
families arrived here which are not noticed. But I
cannot follow them out here.
In the Ancient Transcript, there is a loose leaf,
somewhat worn and obscure, but in tolerable preser
vation, written about the year 1639, at any rate, be
tween 1638 and 1640, as appear from the names and
hand writing. Being, by nearly ten years the oldest
record in the Town Books, and containing an accu
rate and, no doubt, complete list of the inhabitants,
it is here copied. It was after 1638 because James
Astwood came then ; and before 1640 because George
Alcock died then.

"A
bury.

. note of ye

estates and persons of

' ye inhi

[ibitants of Rox

Acres.

Persons.

Estate.

3

0 0

Edward Pason

I

6
2 0
John Tatman
2
6
0 0
7
Obscure.
John Stonnard
2
Obscure.
6
"
Martin Stebbins
2
ic
7
"
Giles Pason
2
10
93 04
6
2 0
Lawrence Whittemo:
re 2
2
06 08
10
Obscure,
Richard Peacock
3
S
00 00
4
0 0
Edward Bugby
3
17
0 00
11
Obscure,
John Levins
3
17
0 00
Ois.
2 0
Edwn. Anderson
3
01
00 00
10
00 00
Christopher Peake
3
06
OS 00
5
02 00
John Ruggles
2
4
13 00
12
02 00
Richard Pepper
4
3
00 00
12
Obscure.
Edward Rigges
4
Obsoire.
history of ROXBURY.

[Part I.

13

Obscure.

William Webb

4

2

Obscure.

13

((

Edward Bridge

4

2

(C

12

(C

Thomas Ruggles

4

1

15 00

14

IC

Robert Seaver

4

17

06 00

12

u

Thomas Griggs
4
00
00 00
12
u
John Hall
4
Obscure.
12
u
John Trumble
(C
17
•2
John Barwell
5
17
10 04
15
(^
Abraham How
5
01
00 "
15
ii
John Mathew
5
01
00 00
15
2
0
John Bowles
5
07
10 00
1-5
2
0
Isaac Johnson
5
02
00 00
16
2
0
Ralph Hemingway
5
9
14 08
15
Obscure.
John Curteis
5
00
00 00
15
t(
Arthur Cary
5
02
Obscure.
18
a
Thomas Waterman
6
01
16 08
20
"
Thomas Pigge
6
17
00 OO
20
"
Samuel Finch
5
14
22
w
Widow Hugbone
7
06
12
u
Abraham Newell
7
07
22
(t
Wm. Chandler
7
06
21
2
Robert Gamblin
7
03
21
John Perry
7
Obscure.
21
Abraham Smith
7
U
24
2
John Pettit
8
(C
24
2
William Cheney
8
^i>
24
Samuel Chapin
8
£t
25
2
William Perkins
8
(£'
25
Robert Williams
8
(1
26
 John Evans
8
U
27
2
-JDaniel Brewer
9
«•
28
James Astwood
9
"
27
Edward Porter
9
ct-
28
2
John Miller
9
U
27
John Roberts
9
((
30
Griffin Crafts
10
tt
37
John Watson
12
((
37
Thomas Lamb
12
tc
Part I.J

]

HISTORY OP ROXBURY.

19

39

John Eliot

13

Obscw

re.

39

William Curtiss
13
"
Obscure  00 acres.
Obscure.
Thomas Bell
12
"18
02
00
(I
George Holmes
13
10
00
00
it
Samuel Hugborne
14
17
00
00
SI 0 0
William Park
15
I
10
00
John Johnson
15
12
06
08
108
John Gore
15
16
00
00
204
Isaac Morell
17
00
00
00
242
George Alcock
20
3
00
00
256
Elder Heath
21
18
03
04
255
John Stow
21
02
17
04
267
William Dennison
24
07
06
08
298
Joseph Weld
23
03
15
00
288
Joshua Hewes
24
00
00
00
303
Philip Eliot
25
07
13
04
333
Mr,
. Thomas Weld
26
01
43
00
355
Mr.
. Thomas Dudley
26
10
00
00"
Upon the other side of the foregoing list is the following :
.  uoscure —
"Wm. Eliot
8 goats 5 kidds
Elder
12 goats
7 kidds
John Johnson
6 goats 4 kidds
Wm. Dennison
2 «
3 "
Isaac Morell
4 goats 3 kidds
John Stow
20 "
8 "
Mr. Sheafe
14 do. 10 kidds
John Levins
8 "
8 "
Edward Bugbee
6 goats 7 kidds
Thomas Waterman
7 goats
obscure
John Bugby
2 goats 2 kidds
Thomas Freeman
3
Edward Sheffield
2 goats 1 kidd
Richard Peacock
1
cc
William Chandler
1 "1 "
Dorithy
1
Ikidd
We, whose names are under written, have appointed John
Burnell, to give 12d, appeace for goats & kidds out of which we
did appoint him to pay Goodwife Burt for her boy ye full tyme
that hee ded keepe the goats. Isaac Heath
John Slow."
20 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
There are few of the families of the town, except
the recent comers, who do not trace their descent
from some of those whose names are here recorded.
It has been remarked that no people can boast of
more honorable descent than those of Massachusetts,
and it is also recorded that " the Roxbury people
were of the best that came."
The first year was one of severe toil, and hardship,
and affliction almost unmitigated. Those who were
alive at the end of the first summer were worn out
when winter set in, either with disease or with the
fatigue of making the first clearing and a hut for shel
ter. Food was scarce. The cold was intense. Dud
ley, one of the first and richest men in the Bay, had
no table, and but a single room, and there he wrote
to the countess of Lincoln the letter that is preserved,
" on his knee in that sharp winter," with his family
pressing to the fireside about him. Mrs. Alcock and
Mrs. Pynchon died. They could, indeed, " almost
say there was not a house where there was not one
dead, and in some houses many." They held many
fasts. It was a time of gloom. They did " enjoy
little to be envied, but endured much to be pitied."
But they came not to plant " for worldly ends" but
" for spiritual." They did not repine. It was fortu
nate indeed for the Roxbury setdement that they
were " not of the poorer sort." But nothing could
save them from the hardships of the first season.
And to add to these, they were in constant danger
from the natives. The position ot the first settlement
seems to have been chosen with a view to defence.
Charges are frequently met with in the town records,

Part I.J historv of roxbury. 21
for the first lew years, of sums paid for driving away
Indians. Roxbury was thought of the first year as a fit place
to build a town. December 6th, 1630, the governor
and assistants met there and agreed to build a town
fortified on the neck between there and Boston, and
they appointed a committee to make the necessary
arrangements. * But when the committee met there
eight days later, they concluded not to build and one
reason was that " there was no running waters and
if there were any springs they would not suffice
the town." They considered also that most had al
ready built and if they settled here they would be
forced to keep two families.

CHAPTER III. *
The First Church in Roxbury,
The religious concerns of the people, were, of
course, the first in importance. They had left the
comforts of home, and chosen to risk life for their re
ligious liberty. The first act of the emigrants on ar
riving in this country was the organization of a church.
The chief bond of the people was, for a long time,
their religious association. The first thought of each
town was for the support of religious worship. In
most towns the formation of a church and a town
government were simultaneous, if not identical. It
was probably because of the hardships of the Roxbury
people that such was not the case here. But, for the
first two years they had no church of their own.
They were assessed for the support of the church
at Charlestown. They joined themselves to the
church at Dorchester, " until such time as God shall
give them an opportunity to be a church amongst
themselves," in the same way as the Muddy River
(Brookline) people were, for many years, joined to
their own.
The first church was gathered in 1632, in July.
Thomas Welde was then " chosen and invested with
the pastoral care."

Part I.] history of roxburv. 23
John Eliot, now known as the apostle became their
teacher in November of the same year.
The first church, and all that was connected with
it, was to the people, the object of love and affection.
They were so identified with it, that it would be un
pardonable to omit some details which might, other
wise, seem trifling. Its complete history for a hun
dred years, would be the history of the town.
A meeting house was built very early. The exact
date is not known. But at a town meeting in 1647,
it was voted " that the meeting house be suddenly
put in safe repaire, and the charges put in the consta
bles rates." This is almost the earliest record of any
town doings. The first house stood in nearly the
same spot where Dr. Putnam's now stands. It was
a building poorer than any decent barn now in the
place. It was not shingled without, nor plastered
within. It had no galleries, pews, or spire. The
people sat on jslain benches without any appointed
places. The men and the women's seats were on
opposite sides of the house. It was such as we some
times see in frontier towns, or in the woods in the
southern states, provided for the slaves of the neigh
boring plantations.
In 1654, the town voted to build two galleries in
the meetinghouse and that the selectmen "see to it."
In 1656, the ends of the building were clapboard-
ed. In 1658, the town passed a vote "that ye meeting
house be repaired, and for warmth and comfort, that
ye house be shingled" — to build " two galleries with
three seates," and that ye house " be plastered with-

24 history of roxbury. [Part I.
in side with lime and haire, also, for setting out of ye
house, that some pinacle, or other orniments be set
upon each end of ye house and that ye bell be
removed in some covenient place for ye benefit of ye
towne," "always provided before this be done ye tim
bers of ye house be well searched that, if there be
such defects as some think, our labor may not be in

vaine."

In 1659, John Chamberlain (the first sexton no
ticed) was to have 50 shillings a year for ringing the
bell and sweeping and £3 if he would "keep ye
doore bowlted."
In 1665, there was complaint that several wanted
convenient room to sit in the meeting house "to their
edification by reason of the disturbance the boys
made in the galleries," and the town desired the se
lectmen to advise with the elders about removing the
boys and building some other gallery, or making
another "paire stayers" or doing any thing to remedy
the evil.
In 1672 there was a "full towne meeting in con
sultation about repairing of meeting house" and after
much debate " with love and condescend ency one to
another," they voted to build a new house not more
than ten rods from the old one. The Muddy River
people contributed, towards building the new church,
104Z. 5sh.
In 1698, it appears from the records of Brookline,
the Roxbury people agreed to permit the people of
Muddy River to worship at their house, and to bear
one-fifth of the expense, which was £6 4sA. and a

Part I.J history of roxbury. 25
meeting, at the Flower-de-luce, kept by Mr. Rug
gles, was called to settle that business.
"A list of the names and sums of our Brethren & Neighbors
of Muddy river that they contribute towards the erecting of a
new meeting house in Roxbury.

Sums.

£

sh. d.

-Thomas Gardner

10

00 00

John White, Jr.

10

00

Peter Aspinwajl

7

John Sharpe, Jr.

5

—Thomas Boistan

5

Richard Wolford

1

10

Andrew Gardner

5

Joseph White
3
Moises Crafts
2
Clement Corban*
1
10
John Evens
00
15
John Accers
1
10
John Winchester
3
00
Robert Harrise
4
00
John Harise
2
00
Benjamin Child
2
00
Denman Meriam
1
00
John Clarke
3
00
Edward Mills
00
10
James Clarke
1
10
Edward Devotion
5
00
Henry Stevens
5
00
John Parker
1
10
Edward Keebe
1
10
Goodwife Keebe
00
10
Mrs. Mather & )
James Rementon )
07
00
Thomas Woodward
00
10
Goodman Winchester
7
00
Samuel Dunkin
1
10
£104 05 00
They had a raising, and the bill of expenses and
provisions was £20, 155^. 10c?. £9, 55. to hands for
.etceteras !
In 1673, by request of inhabitants living remote,
26 history of roxbury. [Part I,
leave was given to build nooning houses, for sabbath
and other public days.
In 1693 is a grant for "pueing the meeting house"
giving "liberty to build pues around the meeting
house except where the boys do sit, upon the charge
of those who desire the same, to have consent of the
committee, & this only to be granted to meet persons
for them to enjoy, & they &* their familyes to fill the
pews or else the committee to do it for them, the use
of this grant being to save room & not to lose it, but
if any dye, the pews to return to the town & no one
to sell." The locality of the pews is recorded. Be
hind Mrs. Denison's seat, and ranging with Mr. Wal
ters pew was Palsgrave Alcocks. The remainder of
that corner was cut up into two pews, one for Jas.
Bailey and one for Capt. Saunders, the one having
the innermost to pass through the other. Capt.
Timo. Stevens built his next the door at the South
end on the right hand, and John Howard between
that and the stairs to the women's gallery. Eben
Pierpont's was on the right, coming in at the front
door, and Jos. Gardner's between that and the men's
gallery stairs. Opposite those was Saml. Ruggles.
On the left of the North door was Edward Dor's, and
between that and the stairs to the men's gallery, was
Edward Weld's. John Gores' was by the pulpit
stairs. But I cannot dwell longer on these matters. If
any one would see the watchful care, and the attach
ment of the people for the church, let him read the
letters and instructions concerning selling the old bell
and buying a new one.

Part I.] history of roxbury. 27
It is not known whether the people of Roxbury
were called together for church service by beat of
drum, as in other towns, before they had a bell.
The order of exercises at Church were first a
prayer by the Pastor ; then the reading and expound
ing of scripture by the Teacher ; then the singing of
a Psalm, which was dictated or lined by the Ruling
Elder ; after that the Pastor preached a sermon or
made an extemporaneous exhortation. The services
concluded with prayer and a blessing from the
Teacher. The distinction made between the office
of Pastor and Teacher in Roxbury, and generally
observed, was not universally adopted.
In the first organization of a Church the procedure
was thus : "one of- the Church messengers of for-
raine Churches examined and tried the men to be
moulded into a Church, discerned their faith and re
pentance, and their covenant being before ready
made, written, subscribed, and read and acknowl
edged, hee discerned and pronounced thgm to be a
true Church of Christ," &c. "So did Master Weld
at the founding of Weymouth Church."
Church members and officers were elected. The
custom was to have strict personal examination. At
the formation of the Indian Church a long examina
tion was had in public in the Church at Roxbury
which is still preserved. It was always rigid.
Ordination was by imposition of hands, by minis
ters, if there. If there were none, "then tvi'oor
three of good report, tho' not of the Ministry, did,
by appointment of thQ Church, lay hands on them."
The right hand of fellowship was either given by one

28 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
in the name of all, or else the several delegates of
the Churches each took the hand of him, to whom,
by this rite they pledged the faith of christian broth
erhood. The salary provided by the town in 1649-50, for
Mr. Eliot was £60. By the same vote £50 was as
sessed for Mr. Davenport. This indicates that such
a person was engaged in the Church after Mr. Weld
left, before Mr. Danforth was ordained. But it may
have been for the school or the fort. In 1652, £120
was assessed, to be equally divided between Mr. El
iot and Mr. Danforth. In 1718, they gave to Mr.
Nehemiah Walter £100, and to his son Thomas £80,
and also voted £100 towards his settlement.
In 1674, 6th, 10th month, is -the first record of a
sabbath school. "This day we restored a primitive
practice for ye training up of our youth," and then
reciting "1st that the male youth, (in fitting season)
stey, every sabbath, after morning exercise, and the
elders exa^iine their remembrance in every part of
the catechism. 2d, that the female youth should
also meet in one place and their elders examine their
remembrance in the catechism, and whatever else
may convene."
The following will show what were the most im
portant matters, in those early days, in the colony
and in the town.
"Certain Propositions agreed upon and voted in ye Church ye
24th of 8 m. 1658.
Infants, either of whose immediate parents are in Church cov
enant, do confederate in their parent's & therefore are members of
ye Church and ye Church ought to take care that they be duly in-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 29
istructed ,in the grounds of religion, & be trained up under yo
tuition of ordinances. Gen. 17, 7— Deut. 29, 12, 13—1 Cor. 7
14— Gen. 18, 19— Ps. 78, 5, 6— Eph. 64."
There were four others, which are too long to be
inserted here. The vote passed in these words :
"Upon many agitations amongst ourselves, upon much advice
and counsel and especially that of the first synod at Cambridge,
(1647) and the late Council at Boston, (1657) after more than
ten years time of consideration about those points in hand. Wee
the Church of Roxbury are at last come up to the resolution, that
wee judge in our consciences, yt those 5 propositions are agreea
ble to ye truth of God and rules which we are to walk by."
The other propositions were — that it was the duty
of all the seede of the Church as soon as they should
come to years of discretion to own the covenant
made in their parents. That the children of mem
bers should be entitled to baptism. That those who
had owned -the covenant, must, before being admit
ted to full communions the Lord's supper and voting,
make public confession, and in case of unreasonable
refusal, they should be cut off from the Church.
Nearly a hundred years later some of these ques
tions taxed a mind like that of Jonathan Edwards.
The following list contains the names of all who
were admitted to the first Church before 1650, and
whose names do not occur in the ancient list of in
habitants. Some of these remained, and were well
known citizens of the town, where their descendants
still live. Of others no trace can be found, but the
simple name on the Church records. Such particu
lars as can be .gleaned concerning the residence of
those who removed, are added to a few of the names,

30 history of roxbury. [Part I.
as these' are important chiefly in genealogical re
searches.

Jehu Burr, was a carpenter, and
one of the first settlers of Spring
field, with Pynchon.
Richard Bugby & his wife, Judith.
Gregorie Baxter ; he went to
Braintree.
Francis Smith.
Mr. Richard Dummer and his wife
Mary.
William Talmadge and wife, went
to "Linn.''
Samuel Wakeman, went to Hart
ford.
John Coggshall and wife went to
Rhode Island.
Thomas Offit and wife.
Thomas Goldthwait wentto Salem.
Rebecca Short, came in 1632.
Abraham Pratt and Joanna, his
wife.
Ann Shelly came in 1632, a maid
servant. She married one Fox-
all of Scituate.
John Walker and wife went to
Rhode Island.
Elizabeth Hinds married Alexan
der  of Boston, 1633.
John Porter & Margaret, his wife.
Elizabeth Ballard, a, maid servant,
came in 1633, married Robert
Seaver.
William Cornwell and his wife,
Jane.
Samuel! Basse, with Ann his wife,
went to Braintree.
Philip Sherman, came in 1633. He
married Sarah Odding, a daugh
ter of John Porter's wife, be
came a familist, and removed to
the Island.
Margaret Huntingdon came in

1638, and brought several child
ren. Her husband died on the
passage of small pox.
Jasper Rawlings and Joann, his
wife.
Thomas Hale married Jane Lord
in 1640 and went to Hartford,
Conn.
 Hues, a maid servant.
John Cumpton.
 Freeborne.
Robert Potter and Isabel, his wife.
Walter Disborough and his wife.
Elizabeth Howard, a maid servant.
Elizabeth Bowis.
Edward Paison.
Nicholas Baker.
William Webb and his wife.
Elizabeth Wise, widow.
Adam Mott and Sarah, his wife,
Hingham. A tailor of this name
came in 1635, in the Defence.
Richard Carder.
John Astwood and his wife went to
Milford, Conn.
Jasper Gun.
Thomas Bircharde and his wife,
came in the Truelove, 1635.
Mary Norrice, a maide, daughter
of Edward Norrice of Salem.
Henry Bull. He came out in the
James in 1635, became a familist
and went to the Island.
James How and his wife.
Mary Swaine. She lived after
wards at New Haven, Conn.
Jane Ford. See Thos. Hale.
Phillis Pepper, maid servant.
Christian Spisor.
Rachel Write. She was a "maid
servant" & married John Levins

Part I.J

HISTORY OF UOXBURY.

31

Joanna Boyse, "a maide.''
Thomas Mihill, Rowley.
 Greene, a widow.
Thomas Robinson and Silenc, his
wife.
Mrs.  Sheafe, a widow.
Mr.  Blackburne and his wife.
George Kilborne, a man servant.
He went to Rowley.
Dorothy Harbittle, a maid servant.
Ann Wallis, a maid servant.
 Anderson.
Thomas Bumsted, and his wife. —
They were dismissed to Boston.
Allis 
John Mayes and his wife.
Lewis Jones.
Richard Woddy and his wife.
Thomas Baker.
William Lewis.
Mr. Hugh Pritchard and his wife.
Edward White.
James Morgan.
Thomas Roberts, Exeter.
Edmund Sheffield, Braintree.
John Woody.
Thomas Beines, a man servant.
Mary Turner, a maid servant.
Richard Goard.

Philip Toric.
Richard Woody, Jr.
Joan Atkins, a maid servant, mar
ried a Smith & wont to Maiden.
Hannah Roe, a maid servant of
Mr. Gore.
William Franklin, executed.
Henry Farnham.
Ann Direton, a maid servant.
Thomas Gardner, Muddy River.
Widow GardnSr.
John Stebbin and wife.
John Stonehard and his wife, Ann.
Goodwife Farrar.
Goodwife Read.
Mary Heath.
Robert Harris.
John Turner.
Edward Denison.
Martha Metcalfe.
George Beard.
Samuell Williams, aged 15 or 16
years.
John Weld.
Mrs. Barker. "She came from
Barbadoes for the Gospels sake."
Goodwife Patchin, "a poore old
woman."

Besides those named, some Indians joined the
church. Nan, Egborn, and some others, are named
in the records.
Nearly all those whose names occur in the list giv
ing the property estates of the inhabitants were, as
well as the foregoing, members of the first church.
For nearly a hundred years, that was the only church
and, in fact, the town. Few persons lived above the
Plain. Most of the families are very old, and nearly
all became connected by blood or marriage.

32 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
Quite a number of estates in the town have never
passed out of the families of the first settlers.
The following is a List of the Ministers of the First Church.
First Church gathered in July, ..... 1632.
Rev. Thomas Weld, "chosen & invested pastor" July, 1632.
Rev. John Eliot "ordained Teacher" Nov. 5, . . 1632.
Rev. Thomas Weld, left  1640.
Rev. Samuel Danforth, ordained Sept. 24, . . 1650,
Rev. Nehemiah Walter, ord. Oct. 17, . . . 1688.
Rev. Thomas Walter, ord. Oct. 19, ... . 1718.
Rev. Oliver Peabody, ord. Nov. 7  1750.
Rev. Amos Adams, ord. Sept. 12, ... . 1753.
Rev. Eliphalet Porter, ord. Oct. 2  1782.
Rev. George Putnam, ord. July 7, . . . . 1830.
In 1706, Joseph Weld and forty-four others "at
the West end of Roxbury towards Dedham, com
monly called Jamaica End & Spring Street," pre
sented to the General Court a petition reciting that
they were "settled in an out-part of the town, at
great distance from the meeting house and the great
Travail and time in going & returning" &c., and
praying to be made a separate precinct, embracing
that part of the town lying between the line running
across the town at the upper part of the plain and
Dedham, including about fifty families, and to be
freed from taxes for the old parish and for aid in
building a house. The original, with the signatures
of the inhabitants at the West end and the original
orders of Court endorsed thereon, is still preserved
in the hands of one of the families in town.
It was first proposed to set the house at Weedy
Plain.

Part I.j history of roxbury. 33
The first Church stood on the old Dedham road,
on the part now called Walter street, near the old
burying ground.
The third or Jamaica Plain parish, was not formed
till more than fifty years afterwards.
The time when the first burial ground, at the cor
ner of Washington and Eustis streets, was laid out is
not known.
On the second page of the oldest Town Book is an
agreement by "John Woody, constable," "to fence in
ye buriall place, with a stone wall, and a douball gate
of six or eight fett wide and to rigge it and to fintle
all stuf and stones."
In 1651, Thomas Alcock had liberty to feed "the
buriall place, he fencing, and putting a gate and lock
and two keys," &c.
In 1683, voted "that our Brethren at Jamaco have
liberty to provide a convenant place for a herring
place and ye towne in generall will bare the charge
provided the selectmen doe judge the place conve
nant, and the aforesaid herring place if so provided
shall be for any of the towne to bury their dead in if
they please." The place was probably on the hill,
near where the second Church stood.
In 1724, Captain Heath gave land for a burial
place at the Plain.
In 1725, the first burial place was enlarged.
In 1673, the town chose a coffin-maker and digger
of graves.

CHAPTER IV.
The Free Schoole in Boxburie.
The free school, also, which has always been so
dear to the people of the Town, and has now become
so well endowed, was established by the first settlers
at an early day. The precise date of its foundation
cannot be determined and is only fixed in the various
accounts met with as prior to 1645. Dedham estab
lished a school in 1644 and appropriated 20/. a year
to it, and Winthrop says that divers free schools were
established about this time. In the will of Samuel
Hugburne, under date of 1642, is this provision:
" When Roxbury shall set up a free schoole in ye
towne there shall ten shilling per annum out of ye
necke of land and ten shilling per annum out of the
house and house lot be paid untOT,t forever."
The school was, therefore, founded after 1642.
Sometime between that time and August 1645, the
inhabitants entered into an agreement for the support
of a free school, which agreement was destroyed by
fire, as will be seen by a petition afterwards present
ed to the general court.
In 1645, there was an agreement made, to supply
the place of the old one, which is still preserved, in a
little, old, parchment covered book which is tied up

Part I.J hisjory of roxbury. 35
like a scroll. It may now be regarded as the begin
ning of the free school. As it is of some importance,
as well as an interesting curiosity, it is given at
length.
"Whereas, the inhabitants of Roxburle, out of their religious
care of posleritie, have taken into consideration how necessarie
the education of theire children in literature will be lo fitt them
for publicke service bothe in Church and Commonwealthe in suc
ceeding ages. They, therefore, unanimously have consented and
agreed to erect a free schoole in the said Town of Roxburie
and to allow twenty pounds per annum to the Schoole master to
be raised out of the messuages and part of the lands of the sev
eral donors (Inhabitants of the said Town) in several proportions
as hereafter followeth under theire hands. And for the well or
dering thereof they have chosen and elected seven FeofFees who
shall have power to put in or remove the schoolemaster, to see to
the well ordering of the schoole and scholars to receive and pay
the said Twenty pounds per annum to the schoolemaster and to
dispose of any other gifte or giftes which hereafter may or shall
be given for the advancement of learning & education of child
ren. And if it happen that any one or more of the said ffeofTees
to dye, or by removal out of the Towne, or excommunication to
bee displayced, the said Donors hereafter expressed doe hereby
covenant for themselves and for their heirs within the space of one
month after such death or removall of any one or more of the
ffeofTees to elect and choose other in their roome so that the num
ber may be compleate. And if the said Donors or the greater
parte of them doe neglect to make election within the time fore-
limited, then shall the surviving ffeofTees or the greater part of
them, elect new ffeoffees in the roome or roomes of such as are
dead or removed (as before) to fuUfiU the number of seven, and
then their election shall bee of equal validity and force, as if it
had been made by all or the greater number of the said Donors.
In consideration of the premises and that due provision may
not bee wanting for the maintenance of the Schoolemaster for
ever, the Donors hereafter expressed, for the severall proportions
by them voluntarily undertaken & under written, Have giveu

36 HISTORV OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
and granted, & by these presents doe for themselves, their heires
and Assignees, respectively hereby give and grant unto the pres
ent ffeoffees viz : Joseph Weld, John Johnson, John Roberts,
Joshua Hews, Isaac Morrell, Thomas Lambe & their successors
chosen as is aforesaid, the severall rents or summes hereafter ex
pressed under their handes issuing & goeing for the of their sev
erall Messuages lands & tenements in Roxburie, yearely payable
at or upon the last of September, by even portions.: the first
payment to begin the last of September in this present yeare.
And the said Donors for themselves, their heires and Assignees
do covenant and grant to and with the ffeoffees and their succes
sors that if the said annuall rente or any parte thereoff be arriere
and unpayed for the space of twenty days next after the days ap-
poynted for payment, that then and from thenceforth it shall be
lawful for and to the said ffeoffees and their successors unto the
said messuages. Lands and premises of the partie or parties
making default to enter and distraine and the said distresse then
and there found to leade, drive and carry away, and the same to
prize and sell for the payment of the said rents returning the
overplus unto the owners and proprietors of the said houses and
Lands. And further the said Donors doe for themselves, theire
heires and Assignees covenant and grant to and with the ffeoffees
aforesaid and their successors that if no sufficient distresse or
distressed can be had or taken in the premises according to the
true intent and meaneing of this present deed, or if it shall hap
pen that any  to bee made or replevie or replevins to be sued
or obtained of or by reason of any distresse or distressed to bee
taken by virtue of the presents as is aforesaid, that then and from
thenceforth it shall & may bee lawfull for the said ffeoffees and
their successors into the said Messuages, Lands & premises to
enter and the same and every part thereof to have use and enjoy
to the use of the Schoole and the rentes issues and proffits there
of to receive and take, and the same to take and deteine and
keepe to the use and behoofe of the schoole as is aforesaid, with
out any account makeing thereof unto the said Donors, their
heirs or assignees and to use and to occupie the said houses,
lands and premises to the use aforesaid untill such time as the
said annuall rents or summes and every parte or parcell thereoff
with all arrearages and damages for non payment bee fully satis-

Part I.J history of roxbury. ,17
fied and paid unto the said ffeoffees their successors or assignees
by the said Donors, their heires or assignees or any of them :
of which said rentes or summes the said Donors every and sin
gular of them have putt the said ffeoffees in full possession and
seizin at the delivery hereof. And for the further ratification
hereof, the said Donors become suitors to the honored General
Court for the establishment hereof by their authority and power.
Always provided that none of the Inhabitants of the said Towne
of Roxburie that shall not joyne in this act with the rest of the
Donors shall have any further benefit thereby than other stran
gers shall have who are no Inhabitantes. And lastly it is enact
ed by the said Donors that the ffeoffees and their successors shall
from time to time be accountable unto the Court of Assistants and
the Donors for the trust committed to them when at any time they
shall be called thereunto and required. In witness whereof the
said Donors aforesaid have hereunto subscribed their names and
summes given yearly, the last day of August in the year of Our
Lord 1645.
Mr. Thomas Dudley, for the house he dwells in 01 04 00
Captain Gookins, for the house he dwells in 01 00 00
[This was the great friend of Eliot, the one who aided him in the In
dian work. He came from Virginia in 1644, and went to Cambridge in
1648.] Mr. Thomas Welde for his dwelling house 1 04 00
Mr. John Eliot for his dwelling house 1 04 00
Captaine Joseph Weld for his house 1 04 00
Mr. Hugh Prichard for his house 1 04 00
( for his lot at the pond ')
Mr. Joshua Hewes } by Capt. Weld bein \ 00 16 00
( 18 acres in all )
Mr. John Gore for his dwelling house 00 16 00
John Johnson " " 00 13 00
Thomas Bell " " 1 00 00
Wm. Park. " " 00 13 00
Isaac Morill " " 00 12 00
Isaac Heath " " 00 11 00
Thomas Lamb " " 00 10 00
William Denison " " 00 08 00
Phillip Elliott " " 00 08 00

38 history of roxbury. [Part I.
John Roberts for his dwelling house 00 08 00
George Holmes " " 00 08 00
Wm. Cheney " " 00 08 00
John Watson " " 00 08 00
Samuel Ffinch " " 00 06 00
John Watson for his lot at ye pond 00 04 00
Daniel Brewer for his house 00 05 00
Isaac Johnson " " 00 04 00
James Astwood " " 00 04 00
John Bowles " " 00 04 00
Griffin Crafts " " 00 04 00
John Ruggles " " 00 04 00
Robert Williams " " 00 04 00
John Scarboro " " 00 04 00
Giles Pason " " 00 04 00
Richard Pepper " " 00 04 00
Humphrey Johnson " " 00 04 00
Richard Woody, senr. " " 00 03 04
Richard Woody, scd. « " 00 03 04
John Woody " " 00 03 04
Abraham Newell " " 00 03 04
John Stonnard " " 00 03 04
Edward Pason " " 00 03 04
Robert Seaver " " 00 02 06
Robert Gamlin " " 00 03 04
Thomas Gardner " " 00 03 04
John Leavinz " " 00 03 04
Edward Porter " " 00 02 06
Christopher Peake " " 00 02 06
Richard Peacock " " 00 02 00
Ffrancis Smith' " " 00 02 00
Thomas Ruggles, widow " " 00 02 00
John Mays " " 00 02 00
Ralph Hemingway " " 00 02 00
Edward Bridge " " 00 02 00
Abraham Howe " " 00 02 00
Edwin Anderson " " 00 02 00
Arthur Garey " " 00 02 00

Part I.J history of roxbury. 39

Edward Bugby

for his

house

00

02

00

Edward White

It

il

00

02

00

Eobert Pepper

(1

((

00

02

00

William Lewis

((

u

00

02

00

Martin Stebbin

{(

u

00

02

00

John Stebbin

i(

"

00

02

00

Jeremiah Cesworth

1(

((

00

02

00

Robert Prentice

£(

CI

00

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Lewis Jones

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04

00

It is agreed by all such of the inhabitants of Roxbury as have
or shall subscribe their names to this booke for themselves sever
ally and their severall & respective heires and executors that not
only their houses, but also their yardes, orchards, gardenings,
outhouses and homesteads shall be and are hereby bounde and be
made lyable to and for the severall yearly somes and rente before-
or hereafter in this booke mentioned to be paid by every of them
dated the xxviii th day December 1646.
Tho. Dudley William Cheney
Tho. Weld Richard Pepper
John Eliot Edwin Anderson
Isaac Heath Giles Payson
Hugh Prichard Humphrey Johnsoa
John Johnson Edward Porter
William Parke Isaac Johnson
John Roberts Thomas Gardner-
The following notes occur in the agreement, viz :
Under Capt. Gookhi's name,
"When Capt. Gookins leases the house he dwells in then the follow
ing inhabitants  obs  who shall possess the lot adjoining
thereto are to pay two shillings yearly and the possessors of the neck.
late Samuel Hugburnes are to pay the other ten shillings yearly,"
Opposite Thos. Welde's name,
"Although the name of Mr. Thos. Welde our reverend pastor be not
sett down, only Mr. Eliot hath subscribed to both Mr. Weld's gift and:
his own, the reason is because Mr. Weld being in England gave orders
and power to Mr. Eliot so to do and his son who doth inherit his lands in
Roxbury doth say that he is fully satisfied in it because Mr. Eliot did
show him his father's letters wherein he gave him power so to do, to
these expressions of Mr. Tho. Weld the. son of our reverend pastor, we-
testified by our hands. William Parks,
John Bowls."
Under Thos. Bell's name,
"Mr. Bell at request of Mr. Eliot hath (obs.) gived power to (obs.) &
we (obs.) Eliot to make the sum of his donation upon his farm the sum
lof twenty shillings (witness) his letter dated 22 of the third month ]§59
this is 20 shill. pr. annum. We, the feofiers saw this letter & by our
names we certify the same that he giveth 20 pr. annum."

40 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
Such was the origin of what is now the Roxbury
High School.
The school rents created by these agreements were
collected the next year. And for about a hundred
years afterwards rent was collected by virtue of these
agreements, though the amount was afterwards re
duced one half by general consent. The first charter
did not free the signers of the original instrument
from their obligations under them. No trace has yet
been found of any act or agreement by which the va
rious estates in town are exempted from payment of
School rent. The author of a sketch of the history
of this school published in 1826, who was a teacher
of the school, says, " how or in what manner the
lands originally subjected to this tribute, became ex
empted from the payment of the tax or whether they
are in fact legally exempted will remain matter of
uncertainty until further papers shall be found, as the
want of boundaries and descriptions prevent all
knowledge of the estates subjected to the payment."
In a very full manuscript account of the school, writ
ten by a very accurate man and one who was learned
in the ancient history of the Town and School, no
allusion is made to the release of the estates from this
rent. In 1722 a suit was commenced against Sam
uel Stevens for the recovery of five years back rent,
by the feoffees. It has been supposed that this was
tried to test the question whether the estates were
holden fof these rents. But, on examination of the
record, (the suit being brought before Habijah Sav-
a|| , of Boston) it appears that no question was made
as to Stevens' liability. The only dispute wa^ wheth-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 41
er another party Who had bought half of the estate of
one of the original donors was not obliged to pay part
of the rent as well as Stevens the other half, which
he owned ; and finally, on settlement, the parties in
terested in the other part of the estate gave 31. to
Stevens and he assumed payment of the whole of the
original donation. The rents were collected for
some time after this. But the accounts show that
they gradually fell off.
. In 1752, on the petition of some " it was proposed
(in town meeting,) whether they might apply to the
general court to take off the donations from the es
tates doned for the benefit of the school land, and no
great matter being said upon that affair it was vo
ted not to act upon it." There can be little doubt
that as sufficient funds came in gradually from other
sources for the support of the school, the ancient rent
was not exacted. As estates changed hands and
were divided it became more difficult to collect it. It
was probably, quietly abandoned by common consent.
It is said, however, to have been the opinion of Dr.
Porter that the rents were commuted for some speci
fied amount paid in full. But if so this must have
been so recent that there would be some trace of it.
The rents were sometimes gathered by a collector
who went round for the purpose. Sometimes the
whole or part of them were given to the schoolmaster
to collect for himself or take out in board. In one
instance in 1679 there being " complaynte that many
of the donations are remaining unpaid," the feoffees
are directed "to employ one as Bayle (Bailiff) to give
notice from house to house of the severall Donors of

42 history of roxbury. [Part L
the time and place of payment, and, in case of failure
to make payment, to make distress according to the
original agreement." No part of the agreement was
a dead letter, and, though some were for a while dis
satisfied under it, it was the source of support for the
school for many years.
The Town seems determined, from the first, to fix
this school on a permanent basis. In 1662 a meet
ing of the donors was called, and "all the inhabitants
and neighbors of the town willing to join in promo
ting the good and benefit of the schoole" were invited
to be present. Warning was given to all the Donors,
from house to house, and they met and chose new
feoffees. In 1666 a meeting was called, and "after
some discourse it was thought convenient and a mat
ter most tending to peace and love to propound the
case to the whole town, that opportunity might be to
as many as thought good of the town to come in and
joyn in this work and to help bear the charge so as to
have the privilege of the school — or else that they
would present a better way and we would join them."
The meeting then adjourned, and, at the adjournment,
" after much discourse spending the day, the meeting
was orderly dissolved and nothing was done."
A petition dated 20th of 3d month 1669, signed by
John Eliott and Thomas Weld, was presented to tbe
general court, reciting that —
" Whereas the first inhabitants of Roxbury to the number of
more than sixty families, well nigh the whole town in those days,
have agreed together to lay the foundation of a Grammar-school,
and for the maintainance thereof have by a voluntary donation
given a small rent forever out of their several habitations and

Part I.] history of roxbury. 43
homesteads as appears in the records of our school book and
have settled a company of feoffees — to gather and improve
the said rents,"
,"2d, whereas by divine providence our first book and charter
was burned in the burning of John Johnson's house, it was
again  renewed in this form and manner as we do now pres
ent it, yet by reason of the death of sundry of the donors and
the 'alienations of tenements we are under this defect that some
of the hands of the donors are not unto this 2d book personally
which were to the first: nor. are they attainable being dead;
therefore our humble request is  that the Honored Court im-
power the Feoffees to receive and gather the same, as if the
names of the donors were written with their own hands,
3d, They also pray that, whereas there is a parcel  many
years since given to our school  and it is by annexing a sched
ule to the will of the deceased donor touching a clause in his
¦will which was not put in when the will was proved  the
schedule and the school's title to the lands may be ratified and
confirmed." This petition was referred. The committee reported that "in
the year 1645 there was an agreement of the then inhabitants of
Roxbury for the laying of a foundation for a school {obscure) that
the school {obscure) hath been carried an end {obs,) on that foun
dation and that there hath not been any other foundation {obs,)
been made  We find also that several of the inhabitants do
strongly oppose the way proposed and that hath been in practice,
yet do not find, that they proposed any other effectual way : but
some of them desirous, that this may be altered {obs.) yet they
declared, that they feared that, if the way that hath been {obs,)
be wholly waved they should have no school at all {obs,) and for
asmuch by the endeavours we have used to persuade them to a
mutual agreement we find not any desirable effect, nor that the
temper of those opposing the former foundation is encouraging
{obs,) we conceive that the petitioners desires be granted {obs.)
that the present feoflfees and their successors {obs,) be confirmed
and empowered to collect former subscriptions and so to take
others {obs.) and that those whose names are not in this book
(two witnes.ses upon oath appearing to prove they did assent to

44 1 history of roxbury. [Part I.
the way of the book) be obliged and their heirs and assigns as if
their names had been thereto : we also conceive that the land of
Lawrence Whittemore be confirmed to the best use of the Town
in being settled upon the free school." »
And the following act was passed at a general
court holden 11: 3: 1670.
"Whereas certain of the Inhabitants of Roxbury, out of a Re
ligious care of their Posterity, and their good education in Liter
ature, did heretofore sequester and set apart, certain sums of
money amounting to twenty pounds to be paid annually unto cer
tain feoffees and their successors, by the said Donors or Feoffees
orderly chosen for the sole and only behoof of benefit and set
tlement of a Free School in the sd. Town of Roxbury : Obliging
themselves, heirs. Executors and Assignees : together with their
Houses and Homesteads, for the true and full performance of
their respective Obligations — all which doth fully appear by
their agreement bearing date the last of August one thousand
six hundred forty-five ; in which agreement the original donors
were wisely Suitors to the General Court for the establishment
of the premises According to which a petition was offered in the
name of the present Feoffees to the General Court holden at
Boston, May 19, 1669. In answer of which the Court impow-
ered a committee to take cognizance of, and return the Case to
the Court, which accordingly was done as appeared by their re
turn dated May 19, 1670. After serious consideration whereof,
the Court doth hereby order and enact, that the said agreement
made and signed by the Donors of the said Sum of Money the
last of August 1645 Be, by our Authority, ratified and estab
lished to all Intents, Ends and Purposes therein specified, both
with respect to the orderly choice and power of the Feoffees, as
also for the Time and manner of payment of the said sums of
money distinctly to be yielded and payed by the Donors of the
same, according to their respective subscriptions, and in case of
refusal of payment of any part of the said sums of money to
which subscription is made or consent legally proved, that the
orderly distress of the Feoffees upon the respective estates
obliged shall be valid for the payment of any such oums of

Part I.J history of roxbury. 45
money so refused to be payed : As also this Court by their au
thority doth settle and determine the lands of Lawrence Whitta-
more with all the rents and arrearages that have or may arise
from thence from time to time, to be received and improved by
the said Feoffees to the use, behoof, and benefit of the Free
School in Roxbury, which said Feoflfees are hereby empowered
for the ordering of all things for the settlement, and reparation
of the School house, choice of masters and orders of the School.
To improve all donations either past or future, for the behoof,
and benefit of the said School, without any personal or private
respects, as also the ordering of twenty acres of arable land, ly
ing in the great lotts, which hath been in occupation of the said
School about twenty years, as also that if for the necessity and
convenient future being of a School master there be necessary the
future levying of any further sums of money, that the said
Donors be absolutely and wholly free from any such levy or im
position those only being accounted Donors who are possessors of
or responsible for the said sums of money according to subscrip
tion, and the said Feoffees to be always responsible to the Court
of Assistants and Donors for the faithful discharge of their trust,
provided there be constant provision of an able Grammar-schoole
master, and the school-house is settled where it was first intend
ed. And may be accommodable to those whose homesteads were
engaged towards the maintenance thereof, and in case there be
need of further contribution that the levy be equally made on all
the inhabitants excepting only those that do by virtue of their
subscription pay their full proportion of the annual charges."
The Free School continued under this act until the
act of January 21, 1789 was passed, incorporating the
Trustees of the Grammar School in the easterly part
of Roxbury. Prior to 1789 there were two bodies
the Feoffees under the old charter, who had the gen
eral charge of the school and its property, and the
Trustees who were appointed tq the care of the prop
erty given by Thomas Bell.

4(6 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PART I.
This school has been very richly endowed. Most
of the gifts were made at an early day and must be
here noticed.
The " School land" is named in various places from
about the period when the school was founded, but to
what it refers cannot be determined.
The first donation, of Samuel Hugburne, has been
already noticed.
Lawrence Whittamore, the " ancient christian,"
whe died in 1644, left his property to the free school.
The ancient charter confirmed the title of the school
to it ; it indicates also the question there was about
it. Of the real estate given by him there was one
lot on Stony River of about four acres, and another of
about ten acres then described as " on the hill in the
pond lots," and now known as the " pond hill lot."
About 1660, John Stowe gave three acres in the
great lotts " to clear his house."
Isaac Heath, by his will, 1660, 19th of llth, names
his " part in ye 4000 acres" which he gives, " to ye
schoole in Roxburie." His proportion was a large
one as he had, according to the account rendered in to
the court, in 1643, 266 acres of land.
Thomas' Bell gave all his property here, which was
large, to the school. His will was dated January 29,
1671, and proved at London May 30th, 1672. A
copy has lately been procured from the office in En
gland. An extract is recorded in the ancient book
belonging to the first parish, which is as follows :
"Imprimis, I give unto Mr. John Eliot, minister of the Church
" of Christ and People of God at Roxbury in New England and
" Isaac Johnson whom I take to be an ofTicer or overseer of or in

Part I.J . history of roxbury. 47
" said Church and to one other like Godly person now bearing
" office in said church and their successors the minister and other
" two such head officers of the said Church at Roxbury as the
" whole church there from time to time shall best approve of suc-
" cessively from time to time forever all those my messuages or
" tenements, lands and hereditaments with their and every of
" their appurtenances situate, lying, and being at Roxbury in
" New England aforesaid in parts beyond the seas to have an^
" to hold to the said officers of the said Church of Roxbury for
" the time being and their successors from time to time forever,
" in trust only notwithstanding, to and for the maintainance of a
" schoole master and free school for the teaching and instructing
" of Foot Men's children at Roxbury aforesaid forever and to be
" for no other use, intent, and purpose whatsoever."
There was some difficulty about the rents fixed on
these lands afterwards. A question also arose out of
the form of the devise, and at the general court May
27, 1677—
"In answer to the petition of the Feoffees of the free school of
Roxbury settled heretofore by order of Court in Town Street,
the General Court having heard and seen the pleas and eviden
ces in the case, doe, upon mature deliberation, judge that the de
clared intent of Mr. Thomas Bell both in his life and at his death
in his will was the settlement of his estate in Roxbury upon that
free school then in being at his death in said Town."
The bequest of personal property by Thomas Bel!
was considerable in amount. The real estate which
he devised to the school has already become of great
value. In his day it was a large estate. He was
one of the wealthy men of the town. Bell was a
generous man and one of a liberal mind. He is the
Harvard of our Free School.
In the petition of 1643, he signs as owner of 166
acres. The present surveys of land left by him do

48 HISTORY OF roxbury. • [PaRT I.
not vary far from this amount. His homestead was
in what in those days was one of the best localities
in town. The ancient mansion which stands at the
corner of Boylston and School streets, was built on
the land he gave and nearly in the very spot where
his house stood. His lands extend from Stony River,
taking in this homestead, across School street and the
turnpike, up to Back street. The beautiful, smooth,
open field of nearly eighteen acres, at the right of
the Dedham turnpike, on the brow of the hill, at the
corner of School street, as you go towards Boston,
and the great orchard opposite are embraced in this.
In all there are about fifty-six acres in his home farm.
Then upon Walk Hill street, about two miles and
three-fourths from Washington street is a lot, divided
by Walk Hill street, of forty-seven acres. Upon
Beach street, a little less than fifty rods from the
turnpike, there are two lots, amounting to about forty
seven acres. There is some other besides. Should
the rate of increase of Roxbury be no greater than it
has been for the last few years, Bell's gift alone
would, at the expiration of the present leases, say in
the year 1900, be an immense endowmenl for such
an institution as the school.
In 1756, a petition was presented by the West
Parish concerning the donation of land by Bell at
Oxford. In 1671, an old lease mentions "three acres lately
Giles Payson's" and "four acres of land lately be
longing to John Stebbins." There is preserved a
copy of a deed from Giles Payson of "three acres in
the great lots" "provided the schools forever remaine

Part I.J history of roxburv. 'il'
free and the donation of four shillings, he forever
quit." From the fact that John Stcbins' name, or
land, is not in the subsequent lists of those liable for
rents, it is probable his grant was made on a similar
condition. Some time before 1674-5 Samuel Finch gave a
piece of marsh, containing a little more than an acre,
to the school. This appears from the oldest receipt
on file, of that date, which acknowledges the pay
ment of ten shillings by James Frizzal for that marsh.
This marsh is at Gravelly Point, and is still owned
by Roxbury School.
In 1660, the General Court judged it " meet to
grant to the Town of Roxbury five hundred acres of
land towards the maintainance of a free school." The
land, however, does not appear to have been located
at that time. In 1715, upon the petition of Stephen
Williams and others setting forth the facts, the gen
eral court granted "five hundred acres to the town of
Roxbury towards the support of the free school." In
1718, Nov. 4, the platt was returned by sworn sur
veyors and approved. The land was laid out in Ox
ford, Mass. on Chabunagungamong pond. The plans
are still in existence.
Committees were appointed from time to time, for
various purposes connected with this land, from 1749
to 1790. Those relative to lotting out the lands,
preventing waste, &c., &c., need not be here noticed.
In 1767 they voted to sell. In 1770, the committee
reported that they had sold to Rev. Mr. Bowman of
Oxford, and Mr. Bellows for £223 : 10 : 00. In the
same year it was proposed "whether to give ye in-
7

.50 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
terest of the school money to ye inhabitants at ye
West end of the town and voted in ye negative."—
From 1776 to 1788 a committee was appointed an
nually to take charge of the Oxford School money.
In 1790 the money was paid into the Town treasury
and that is the end of it.
In 1683, Oct. 29, William Mead, by his will, gave
"unto the free school of Roxbury for the encourage
ment of learning, all the aforesaid little tenement by
me purchased, in case my beloved wife Rebeckah
marry not, my will is that after her decease the whole
(obs.) shall be for the use of the aforesaid school, and
managed by the Feoffees of the said school for the
best advantage." This was known as Mead's Or
chard, and consists of about one acre and nineteen
rods. It is on Warren street and was often reserved
for the school master's residence.
Governor Dudley is supposed to have given part of
the lot, where the old school house, that was sold,
stood, opposite Guild Hall. Both he and his de
scendants made very large donations to the school.
Other donations were made to the school besides
those that have been noticed.
With such bounties, it is no wonder that this school
was, very early, one "of high character" and "the
admiration of the neighboring towns." It was said
by Mather "that Roxbury had afforded more scholars,
first for the college and then for the public, than any
other town of its bigness or, if I mistake not, of
twice its bigness, in all New England."
And the Roxbury Free School, for the liberality of
its objects, the great names that have been associated

Part I.J history of roxbury. 61
with it, and the actual good it has done, as well as
for its wealth, deserves an honorable place amongst
the institutions of the country. But these must be
passed by now, whilst we turn over a few matters
concerning its early days.
In 1648, Isaac Morrill agreed to collect the school
money and pay it over to the schoolmaster.
The first teacher named in the school records is
Master Hanford who agreed for twenty-two pounds
per annum.
The 25th of the 9th month 1662, the feoffees
agreed with Mr. Daniel Welde "that he provide con
venient benches with forms, with tables for the schol-
lars, a convenient seate for the schoolemaster, a
Deske to put the Dictionary on and shelves to lay up
bookes, and keepe the house and windows and doores
with the chimney sufficient and proper and there
shall be add^d to his yearly stipend due by the Booke
the rent of the schoole land being four pounds the
yeare. He having promised the Feoffees to free
them of the labour of gathering up the particulars of
the contributions and they to stand by him in case
any be refractory."
Though our early law of the colony required each
town to provide a school master to teach children to
read and write, and, when any towns should have a
hundred families or householders, to set up a gram
mar school, there appears to have been none but this
in Roxbury.
In 1668, the Feoffees made an agreement with
John Prudden as teacher, for a year, the terms of
which are a little curious. Master Prudden "prom-

52 HISTORY of roxbury. [Part 1.
" ised and engaged to use his best endeavour, both by
" precept and example, to instruct in all Scholasticall,
" morall, and Theological discipline, the Children, (soe
" far as they are or shall be capable") of the signers
"all A. B. C. darjans excepted."
About fifty persons signed the agreement.
And the Feoffees, "not enjoyning, nor leting the
" said Pruden from teaching any other children, pro-
" vided the number thereof doe not hinder the profiting
"of the fore-named youth," promised to allow Mr.
Pruden twenty-five pounds half on the 29th of Sept.
and the other half "to be payed on March 25, by
" William Parks and Robert Williams, their heirs or
" administrators, at the upper mills in Roxbury, three
" quarters in Indian Corn, or peas, and the other fourth
" part in barley, all good and merchantable at price
" current in the country rate, at the day of payment."
It was "alsoe further added" that "if any other
" persons in the town of Roxbury shall for like ends
" desire and upon like grounds with the above-men-
" tioned, see meete to adde their names to this writing,
" they shalle enjoye the like priviledges."
One column of the subscribers was headed
"Gmi«5." At one time, probably about 1673, the Bell lands
were let to John Gore for twenty-one years, he
agreeing "to teach the school or procure a substitute,
or pay £12 a year in corn, or cattle," &c.
In 1679, it was ordered that "parents, &c., of
" children comeing to the school, whether inhabitants
" or strangers, shall pay four shillings a child to the
" master or bring half a cord of good merchantable

Part I.J mistorV ot* KO.xin rv. 53
" wood, except such as for poverty or otherwise shall
" be acquitted by the feoffeesi"
In 1724 it was ordered that parents, &c. shall send
4>sh. 6d. in money or two feet of good wood for each
child within ten days "or the master to suffer no such
children to have the benefit of the fire."
In 1|35 the amount for each child was eight shil
lings or two feet of wood.
In 1665, the school house, probably the first, was
repaired by Capt. Johnson. But in 1666 it was com
plained of as out of repair. In 1681 one of the teach
ers in a letter to one of the trustees says " of incon-
" veniences, I shall instance no other, but that of the
" school house the confused and shattered and nastie
*' posture that it is in, not fitting for to reside in, the
" glass broken and thereupon very raw and cold, the
" floor very much broken and torn up to kindle fires,
" the hearth spoiled, the seats some burnt and others
" out of kilter, that one had as well nigh as goods
"keep school in a hog stie as in it." (This master
was evidently not restricted to morall, ecclesiasticall
and theologicall discipline.) A new building was
probably built about this period.
In 1742, the old school house being much gone to
decay, the feoffees, "with the help of many well dis
posed persons by way of subscription" erected a new
school house. This was built of brick, of one story.
The second story was added in 1820. It was sold in
1835. When they built the brick school house in
1742 the "Honl. Paul Dudley Esquire was pleased to
bestow for the use of said school a good handsome
Bell."

54 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
In 1688, the school lands were let at auction for
five hundred years. This gave great dissatisfaction,
and it was alleged that there was fraud in the sale.
About 1716 a petition was presented to the council
and the leases of Bell's land were declared to be con
trary to the law and statutes of England and beyond
the power of the Feoffees. A suit or suits were
brought in court. Achmuty and Valentine were
counsel for the School, but Gore the defendant pre
vailed at last, after the case had been appealed and
reviewed. These leases were finally all cancelled by
agreement. In 1728 the standard of admission was raised. In
stead of excluding only ABCdarians, the order provi
ded that the master should " not be obliged to receive
"any children for his instruction at the said school
" until such time as they can spell common easy En-
" glish words either in the Primer, or in the Psalter
" in some good measure." Latin was ordered to be
taught at least as early as 1 674.
In 1765 the present house on the Bell place was
built. The early income of the School, after receiving its
various donations, may be seen by the following ac
count. "Roxbury, 7 April, 1731.
The profits or incomes of the Free School in Roxbury, taken
the day and year above written.
Imprimis. Mr. Bell's farm so called —
Ebenezer Gore's lease at ... . £30 00 00
Ebr. Weld . . . Lease . . 7 00 00
Zach. Smith's lease at  3 00 00
Scarboro and Sam Williams (sold since & money let) 5 00 00
45 00 00

Part I.J history of roxbury.

55

Other school lands —

Joseph Ruggles 
6
00
00
Joseph Williams ......
4
10
00
Joseph Warren .....
2
10
00
John Stowe 
. 2
10
00
James Frizzel 
•
10
00
16
. 3
0000
00
Govr. Dudley's Donation £50
00
Subscriptions collected by
Mr. Dorr 
2
02
00
" Saml. Williams 
1
16
03
" Sumner ......
1
08
00
Maj. Bowles 
. 1
04
00
Deacon Mayo ......
0
19
00
John Williams 
•
12
08
45 00 00
16 00 00
3 00 00
8 01 11
72 1 11 The whole amounts to 72 1 11
Paul Dudley.
From the year 1645 when the Donors subscribed, to the year
1734, including only ye year 1733, is 88 years. £ sh, D.
The amount of the subscriptions being 8 — 1 — 11 pr. ann.
£ sh. D.
brings the subscribers to have payd 712 — 8 — 8.
Each donor that pays \2sh, pr. annum £ s, p,
has paid in the time above-mentioned 52 16 00
Mr. Dudley seems in the above account to have
been considering the wealth of the school, and the
best mode of securing its income.
It is difficult, oftentimes, to trace the old home
steads. The following list of the Donors and estates
56 history of ROXBURY. [Part I.
will be found a great aid and a sure guide. This ac
count was made about the year 1700, no doubt for
the purpose of guiding in collecting the school rents.
It will be borne in mind that the names are given for
the different dwellings, or homesteads, not for the lots
owned by individuals. This list gives, first, the
names of the original subscribers, and then, when
their dwellings had changed hands, the names of the
occupant in 1690 or 1700. To that time most of
them can be traced with little difficulty.

The sums in this list are in those in ye former.
after Eliot's death in 1690.

This was made

His excellency ye gov. 00

12 00

Mr. Thomas Weld (now Ed-

mond) ' .

12 00

Mr. John Eliot now

12 00

Capn. Joseph Weld (now

Brumfield)

12 00

Hugh Prichard (now Pier-

poynt)

12 00

Joshua Hews (now Polly)

8 00

John Gore

8 00

John Johnson, now Bowles
 *1
William Park, now Smith

6 06

6 06

Isaac Morell " Stevens

6 00

Isaac Heath " Bowles

5 06

Thos. Lamb " Aspinall

5 00

William Denison
 *2
John Roberts, now Sumner

4 00

4 00

 *3

William Cheney, now Thomas 4 00
John Watson, now Brumfield 4 00
 *4
John Wataon, " Stodman 2 00
Danl. Brewer, now Daniel
Brewer . . . 2 06
Isaac Johnson, now Seaver 2 00
James Astwood, alias Yung-
man, now Stoddard 2 00
John Bowles, now Gary 2 00
Griffin Crafts, now Ruggles
secundus . . . 2 00
John Ruggles, now John
Ruggles sr. . . . 2 00
Robert Willyams now Stevens 2 00
John Scarborough, " Samuell 2 00
 *5
Richard Pepper, now Scar
borough . . . 2 00
Humphrey Johnson, now
J. Williams . . 2 00
Richard Woody, now Mr.
yPalter . . 01 08
Richard Woody jr. now Mr.
Walter . . . 01 08
John Woody, now Maoarty 01 08
Abraham Nowell, now Ma-
carty . . . 01 08
 *6
Edmund Pason, now Hol-
brook . . . 01 08
Robert Gamblin, now Benj. 01 08
Thomas Gardner, now Sam
Williams . . . 01 08
Part I.J

HISTORY OF ROXBURY.

67

[Robert Seaver in original]
 -»7

Edward Bridge . . 01 00
Abram. How, now Isaac 01 00
Edward Porter, now Mac- Gowin Anderson, now As-
arty . . . . 01 03 pinwall . . . 01 00
Christor. Peak, now Dor 01 03  —  *10 : 11 : IS : 13
 *8 Robert Peper, now Pike 01 00
Richard Peacock, now Dor 01 00  *14

Francis Smith, now John
 *9
John Mays
John Hemingway

01 00 Peter Gardner, now Cheany 01 00
Lewis Jones, now Ruggles
01 00 tertius . . . 03 00
. 01 00 .

It will be seen that the chief difference in this is the reduced rent,
which occurs as early as 1674 ; the addition of very few names ; and the
omission of those who, from their gifts of land, had had their estates
freed from rent, or from some other cause, if there was any other, were
exempted from payment of rent.
*1 Thomas Bell's name was here on 1st list.
*2 Philip Eliot's name was here.
*3 George Holmes " "
*4 Samuel Finch " "
*5 Giles Payson " "
*6 John Stonnard [but he did not sign ye original.]
*7 John Levinz was here.
*8 Samuel Morgan was here.
*9 Thomas Ruggles " "
*10 Arthur Gary f ^
*11 Edward Bugby J Their names were here but they did not
*12 Edward White 1 sign original themselves.
•1 3 William Levins (_
*14 John Stebins.
Robert Prentise [did not sign original.]
The following- is a list of the earlier teachers of the school,
with the date when they served.

I

Philip Eliot . . .

Benjamin Thompson

1700

 Stowe, probably

John Bowles . . .

1703

 Hansford . .

1650

William Williams .

1705

Daniel Weld . . .

1665

Timothy Ruggles .

1708

 Mihill . . .

1666

Ebenezer Williams .

1709

John Prudden . .

1668

Increase Walter . .

1712

John Howe . . .

1673

Robert Stanton . .

1713

Thomas Weld . .

1674

Thomas Foxcroft

1714

Thomas Bernard

1680

Ebenezer Pierpont .

1716

Joseph Greene . .

1695

Henry Wise . . .

1718

Andrew Gardiner .

1698

Richard Dana . .

1719

58

HISTORY OF ROXBURY.

[Part I.

Benjamin Ruggles .

. 1722

 Coolidge . .

. 1753

Thomas Weld . .

. 1723

James Greaton . .

. 1756

Ebenezer Pierpont .

. 1726

John Fairfield . .

. 1758

Joseph Mayhew . .

. 1731

Joseph Warren . .

. 1760

David Goddard . .

. 1733

Ebenezer Williams .

. 1761

Thomas Balch . .

. 1734

Benjamin Balch .

. 1763

John Ballantine . .

. 1736

Samuel Parker . .

1765

Stephen Fessenden .

1738

Oliver Whipple . .

1766

Nathaniel Sumner .

1740

Increase Sumner

1768

John Newman . .

1741.

Samuel Cherry . .

1770

Job Palmer . . .

1743

Ward Chipman . .

1771

Elisha Savel . . . .

1744

Joseph Prince . . .

1772

Daniel Foxcroft . .

1745

John Eliot . . . .

1773

Edward Holyoke .

1746

Benjamin Balch . . .

1774

Solomon Williams . .

1747

 Williams . . .

1774

 Merriam . . .

1750

Thomas Marsh . . .

1775

William Gushing . .

1752

Oliver Everett . . .

1776

CHAPTER V.
Town Government.
At a court held in 1635, " it was ordered that all
triviall things," &c. "should be ordered in the towns."
The general laws of the colony belong to other
works. Only those acts are here noted which belong
to the town, or matters recorded there.
I have not been able to discover any trace of the
first organization of the town government. The vote
of the town passed about 1649, and which is still
legible that "ye five men shall have, for ye present
yeare, full power to make and execute such orders as
they, in their apprehension, shall think to be condu
cing to the good of the town," indicated that it was
of the simple form common in the colony, and that it
was distinct from the parochial or church government.
The five men as they were called for many years,
being styled seZecMewafterwards, were chosen annu
ally, by the body of the people, and had the general
control of town affairs. For a long time they were
the only town officers chosen. Though there seem
to have been separate and distinct bodies to manage
the affairs of the town and those of the church, many
matters relating to parish affairs were transacted in

60 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
the town meetings and are recorded in the town
books, such as those relating to building, repairing,
and arranging the meeting house, salaries for the pas
tors, and the like. The town was but one parish.
The business was not kept distinct. Very likely if
the church had been organized on the first settlement
that would have been the only government.
The colony law of 1631, forbidding any but church
members from becoming freemen, shows that all had
not equal privileges. It is probable that all were not
regarded as entitled to act in town affairs. In 1659,
the " non freemen chose Edward Denison to clear
whether the non freemen may not have vote to choose
commissioners and hee to see this cleared the next
general court."
Somewhat later, a question was raised as to the
right of any but original proprietors or their heirs to
have a voice in the disposition of town lands.
But in general the records indicate that all matters
promiscuously were brought before the whole body of
the people.
In 1652, orders for the town were drawn up. It
was then ordered " by the body that they be entered
in ye towne booke and from yeare to yeare, upon
that day when the body meete for choice of officers
and selectmen (being concluded to be in January) to
be read over to the body which, if judged by the town
to be for the town's good they shall remain in force
for the next yeare," &c.
It is further provided " in case any person shall,
at any time, find himself aggrieved or judge himself
w^ronged by any order or carriage of the selectmen

Part I.J history of roxburv. 61
such person shall first complaine to the said five men
and see'ke satisfaction of them, and if he can, have
satisfaction of them, and if not then to have liberty to
appeal to the body to hear and decide the case but if
such person complaine causelessly then he to pay
double the fine imposed on him.''
In 1664, three men were chosen "to give the select
men orders that may be thought of for the selectmen
to consider and establish for the good of the towne."
Some of the earliest fivemen, or selectmen, were
1647— Captaine Prichard 1653— Philip Eliot
Lieut, {obscure.) Isaac Morell
John {obscure.) Thomas Welde
John Bowles Robert Willyams
Brother Williams * Edward Denison
1650  Heath 1654— John Johnson
Griffin Crafts Thomas {obscure.)
Dea. Eliot John Bowles
Edward P. {obscure.) Edward {obscure)
Thomas M. {obscure.) William Park
1652 — John Johnson 1655 — Edward Drayson
John Ruggles Isaac Morell
Edward Denison John Ruggles
Griffin Crafts Griffin Crafts
John Bowles John Pierpont
They attest the oldest records, where there is any
attestation. In 1665 the five men were allowed £5 per annum.
In 1679 the order providing for their pay was re
pealed. It was not till 1666 that the town "voted to choose
a clarke for the year ensuing and so remaine till the
towne see cause to alter it. He is to keepe the
towne records and buy another booke and have every
thing exactly transcribed by the aforesaid claj-ke un-

62 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
lesse such things as either are ridiklus or inconven-
ent," &c. and that the selectmen direct what be wrote
in the town booke.
Edward Denison was chosen the first town clerk.
The general laws for the government of the people
were enacted by the general court. Though in some
respects they would not do for our day, they still
" evince not only their acknowledged love of liberty
but a degree of practical good sense in legislation and
a liberality of sentiment far greater than have usually
been ascribed to them."
Some traces of these are found in town papers.
In 1669, 1671 and seven, persons were set on the
gallows with a rope round their necks and suffered
corporal punishment.
In 1671 an Indian was executed and hung up in
chains for murder.
In 1673, a youth of seventeen being convicted of
the horrible and abominable crime, and " being very
stupid and hard hearted was excommunicated, and the
beast was knocked on the head and slaine before his
eyes." Excommunication was a common punishment for
drunkenness and various crimes.
In 1668, the county bridge being presented, a com
mittee was appointed " for the substantial erecting of
" the bridge, with power to impresse men to that
" worke." Of the earliest town laws there are only a few
scraps to be found on the decaying part of mutilated
leaves. One of the earliest of these provides for pen
alties far taking rocks out of the highways, and leav-

Part I.J history of roxburv. G3
ing holes in the road. Very careful regulations were
made for preventing fires, each person being obliged
to provide ladders to the top of his house, &c. Oth
ers relate to the feeding at large of cattle, swine, &c.
In 1656, a law was made prohibiting turkies from go
ing at large, against which a most earnest protest
was entered.
In 1656, a bounty of 30 shillings was given for a
wolfs head. 1666, ten shillings were paid to John
Crafts and Shubael Seaver for a wolf killing.
The town passed license laws quite early. In
.1663, leave was " given John Gorton and Robert
Pepper to brew and sell penny beare and cakes and
white bread." In 1678, the town voted " that no
wine nor liquors shall be sold at any ordinary in
Roxbury," and that they would have but one ordina
ry in town. In 1725, a fine was remitted to Widow
Sarah Pierpont for selling drink without license. In
1730, Mr. Manser "prayed ye towne to forgive him
ye fine laid on him for selling strong drink without li
cense and voted in ye negative." In 1734, it was
earnestly recommended to the selectmen to have no
more taverns or retailers in the town than is abso
lutely necessary.
The town often passed laws regulating the prices
at which grains "should pass current." Thus in
1667, they voted that men should pay and receive,
Indian at 3 sh. a bushel, peas at 3 sh. 8 pence.
Barley and Malt at 4 shillings and 6 pence. Rye at
4 shillings. In 1672, Rye and Barley were 4 shil
lings. Peas 4 sh. 6d., Indian 3 shil. In 1689, Wheat
was 5 sh.. Barley and Malt 3, 6. Indian 3 sh., Rye

64 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT ].
3 sh., Peas 4 sh. They were generally received for
taxes. The town was cautious to prevent being charged
with any stragglers, and early made a law that "if
any person admit or receive any person or inmate in
to his house and keepe them over one weeke with
out leave of the selectmen, he shall be fined 20 shil
lings, and the selectmen are appointed to speak with
some who have transgressed." And such warnings
were much more frequent than they now are.
In 1733, a by-law was made "against running or
galloping horses in calash, chaise, chair, cart, slay, op
sled in ye town from Boston line to William Jervis,
or in ye road to ye lower county bridge by ye mills
or round ye square by Saml. Williams," with a pen
alty of 10 shillings, and one half to the use of the
town's poor.

CHAPTER VI.
Titles to Estates.
*At a Court of Assistants, on Thursday, May 21, 1629 —
"The Court, taking into due and mature consideration how
necessary it will be that a dividend be forthwith made of land in
the London Plantation in New England both for the present ac
commodation of the people lately gone thither, as well to build
them houses, as to enclose and manure, and to feed their cattle
on, have thought fit and ordered, that the Governor, Deputy and
Council there shall make a dividend accordingly and allot unto
the several adventurers and others, as followeth, viz :
That two hundred acres of land be by them allotted to each
adventurer for £50 adventure in the common stock, and so after
that rate, and according to that proportion, for more or less, as
the adventure is, to the intent they may build their houses and
improve their labors thereon.
That every adventurer in the common stock, or his servant for
him or on his behalf, shall make request or demand to the Gover
nor or Deputy and council, to have a proportion of land allotted
unto him accordingly, and if, within ten days after such request
or demand made, the same be not set out and allotted unto him
then such person or persons are, by virtue of this act, permitted
and authorized to seat him or themselves, and build his or their
houses, and enclose and manure ground in any convenient place
or places not formerly built upon or manured : provided that the
land so made choice of by any such person or persons do not ex
ceed in quantity the one half of the land which is to be allotted
Unto him or them by dividend, according to the order above writ
ten ; with liberty also, when the first dividend shall be made, to
9

66 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [PaRT I.
take his or their allotment of land as others do, in lieu of this, if
in the mean time the first choice shall be disliked by them, or
any of them.
And lor further explanation of this act, it is thought fit, that if
the plot of ground whereon the town is to be built be set out, and
that it be publicly known that it be intended for that purpose, that
then no man shall presume to build his house in any other place,
unless it be in the Mattachusetis Bay, and then according to such
direction as shall be thought meet for that place. And in case
his allotment for building his house within the plot of ground set
out for building of the town be not appointed unto him within ten
days after demand or request to the Governor or the Deputy and
Council for the same, it shall be free for any, being an adventurer
in the common stock, or his servant for him or tin his behalf to
build his house in any place within the. said plot set out for the
town, and to impale to the quantity of half an acre for each £50
adventure in the common stock : unless a greater or lesser pro
portion be formerly determined by the Governor and Council, by
which each builder is to be guided and directed.
It is further thought fit and ordered, that all such as go over in
person, or send over others at their own charge, and are adven
turers in the common stock, shall have lands allotted unto them
for each person they transport to inhabit the Plantation, as well
servants as all others : which fifty acres of land, so allotted to
servants and others is hereby ordered to be set to and for the use
of his master or setter forth, being an adventurer in the common
stock to dispose of at his discretion in regard the master, &c. is
at the charge of the said servant and others their transportation,
wages and otherwise. But for such as being no adventurers in
the common stock shall transport themselves and their families, it
is ordered that fifty acres of land shall be allotted and set out for
the master of the family, and such a proportion of the land more,
if there be cause, as, according to their charge and quality the
Governor and Council of the Plantation there shall think neces
sary for them, whereby their charge may be fully and amply sup
ported : unless it be to any with whom the company in London
have or shall make any other particular agreement, to which re
lation i% to be had in such case.

Part I.J history of roxburt. 67
And to the end every adventurer may the more safely and
peaceably enjoy their said lands allotted unto them or chosen by
them, and the houses they build thereupon, as abovesaid, it is
thought fit and ordered by this court, that conveyances shall be
made thereof unto each particular man for the land he possesseth,
in the Company's name, and the common seal of the Company to
be thereunto affixed by the Governor and Council there, at the
charge of the Company, which common seal is by this court
thought fit and ordered to be committed to the charge and keep
ing of the Governor for the time being and in his absence to his
deputy there."
This was the law for the division of lands in the
colony. But titles in the early times of the colony
were not granted, transferred or evidenced with the
same formality as now. Although it is questionable
whether a mere note of a proprietary, or the body of
the town, without any deed or location in pursuance
of such vote, would pass lands to an individual at this
day, "it is well known that almost all the titles which
have been derived from proprietors of townships have
nothing better to depend upon than a vote recorded
in the proprietor's books : and where possession was
taken in conformity to the vote, and transmitted by
the grantee to his heirs or assigns, titles so acquired
have been respected and maintained in our courts of
law." Such is the language of the Supreme Court of this
State. And, considering the many causes to render
the records of this town for the first few years imper
fect, they could not reasonably be expected to be more
complete than we find them. It is doubtful whether
any town has more perfect ones, in respect to titles.
By the colony act of 1634, it was provided that
the constables and four more of the chief inhabitants

68 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PART 1.
of every town, to be chosen by all the freemen there,
with the advice of the next assistants, shall make a
surveying of the houses, backsides, cornfields, mowing
grounds, &c. &c. of every free inhabitant, and shall
enter the same in a book with the several bounds, and
deliver a transcript thereof into the court within six
months, and the same so entered and recorded, shall
be a sufficient assurance, &c. &c. and the like course
shall be taken for all such as shall be hereafter en
franchised, &c.
The practice in division of land seems to have been,
either for the court to grant land for individuals, or,
what was more common, for the*settlers themselves
to take up lands for the first few years, till the incor
poration or grant of a town, and after that time for
all grants to be made by the towns.
The following extracts from the colony records con
tain the earliest matters concerning the grant to the
Town.
1636. Ordered, that all the rest of the ground lying betwixt
Dorchester bounds and Boston bounds shall belonge to the
towne of Roxbury easterly of Charles River except the property
of the aforesaid townes which they have purchased of particular
persons. Roxbury not to extend above eight miles in length
from their meeting house.
1637. Four thousand acres were granted to Roxbury.
1640. The four thousand acres to be set out in four places at
the most.
16th of 3d m. 1638. Report of men appointed to certify bounds
between Roxbury and Dedham, (together with the lands pur
chased by Dedham.)
Drew " an equal line of division by marked trees and stakes
from S. E. side of Roxbury bounds by a straight N. W. line run
ning until it touch upon Charles River. Furthermore, in consid-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 69
eration of some streightness at the Westmost end of Roxbury
bounds by reason of the course of the River it is mutually agreed
that a portion of meadow shall belong unto Roxbury which join-
eth towards the northeast upon Roxbury and bounded to the S.E.
by certain marked trees from the line of division aforesaid, (com
prehending a narrow strip of upland) unto a point of upland on
the bound of the marsh and from thence by the Nmost point of a
little hillock of upland in the marsh straight on to the River.
Edw. Alleyn,
Geo. Alcock,
John Outer.
The boundary of Roxbury and Dedham was long
unsettled. In 1660, a committee was chosen to ne
gotiate about it. But it was not finally adjusted till
1697. 1639, llth mo. " A committee having full authority from the
Town to end all controversee concerning ye line of partition be
tween Boston and Roxbury, at Muddy River, concerning which
some doubt hath been made, have agreed that the trees marked,"
&c. "be the bounds."
Will. Colbron, ) John Gore, »
Will Tynge. [Boston. Joseph Weld, U^^^
Jacob Eliot, ) John Johnson, I ¦'

Willm. Parke,

To the Honor'd Court assembled at Boston.
1643, 8 mo. Whereas it pleased this honored court some three
years since to grant unto {obscure) certain farmes and the place
appointed where they should lye, which was between Sudbury,
Dedham and Watertown, but soe that the bounds of Dedham
were not layed out therefore it pleased this court to grant them
a tyme to lay out their bounds, which being past, ye humble pe
tition is that this court will now be pleased to appoint men to lay
out ye farmes according to the former grant, &c.
Tho. Dudley 416
William Tomson 200
Rich. Browne 200
Isaac Heath 256

70 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
On the foregoing is this Joseph Weld 278
order. Richard Parker 436
" Dedham has 3 wks. for to John Johnson 100
set their bounds. Then Rox- Joshua Hues 288
bury to have the residue of Isaac Morrill 204
their 4000 acres between William Park 181
Watertown, Sudbury and Thos. Bell 166
Dedham," &c. &c. Mr. Thomas Weld 353
Philip Eliot 333
Samuel Hugh.* 177
Gorg Holmes 162
John Gore 188
Gorg Alcock 242
William Denison 267
John Stow 253
William Kane 400
* This is doubtless contracted for Hugburne.
The earliest trace met with, of any thing relative
to the town grants, is in a deposition of William
Curtis, aged 73, taken in 1666, which states he " was
appoynted by ye towne lo be a measurer to lay out
severall parcels of land that was granted to sundry in
habitants and amongst them a piece of meadow grant
ed to John Compton, then an inhabitant of Roxbury.
It was bounded south and east all along by the brooke
and north by land of John Freeborne." These names
are early ones. Compton was a freeman in 1 634.
The fact that the deposition of an old man was re
quired to be taken shows that the allotment was an
ancient one. Probably the lots surveyed were among
the earliest town grants. On the first page of Town
Records (almost illegible) is a vote to allot to those
who pay town rates out of the town lands not dis
posed of. (1647.)

Part I.J history of roxburv. 71
The town continued, for many years, to make
grants to individuals, without compensation, and on
these many titles in the town depend. They are
generally entered with little formality, often giving
merely the number of acres, without any boundary.
In several instances conditions are annexed to the
grants, so that on breach of those conditions the land
will revert to the town.
In 1648, a grant of six acres was made to William
Lyon, afterward six to George Brown, six to John
Stebbin, and so on to others, forming, when all col
lected together, a long list, extending over nearly a
hundred years, which is too long to be here inserted.
In some, the locations can be traced, but not in many.
In 1656, a grant was made to Tobias Davis of six
or seven acres for a corn mill and fulling mill.
In 1676, the clay pitts were granted to Ralph
Hemingway. The grant to John Grosvenor at the bridge and
old mill was "for liming leather, in fee, and not to
sell but for said use and to be forfeit if it damage the
w^ater for cattle or man."
Joseph Peak had a grant at Hog's Bridge "for
dressing wash leather."
A grant was made to Moses Draper near Stony
River bridge, by Dedham road, for a blacksmith's
shop, to him and his successors, for this use and no
other. Some of these grants are on condition that the lots
be built on within a certain period.
Quite a list of those who lived on the street can
be formed from the grants of lands "back of their

72 history of roxbury. Part I.J
houses to the brooke," Smelt Brook or Town
Brook. The town vote for all the inhabitants to render in
an account of their lands to be recorded and a tran
script of the record to be returned into court, which
was the origin of "The Ancient Transcript," written
by Goodman Denison and certified by the five men,
has been already given.
This transcript would probably be deemed sufficient
evidence of title. The only difficulty in tracing titles
by it is the want of courses and distances, the mere
names of abuttors being given, because of the lands
having been divided in several allotments, each per
son owning many lots in various parts of the town.
The homesteads, however, may be traced, and with
sufficient pains, probably most of the lots.
In 1662, the town voted that no more land be
given away, but that it be kept for the town's use.
This vote, however, was not observed.
In 1692-3, the selectmen were directed to consult
authority and obtain their judgment concerning the
right proprietors of the common lands. Some claim
ed that they belonged to the first proprietors and not
to the body at large.
The Town had various grants of land made to it
by the Legislature. Some have been named.
In 1733, there was a vote of the town to get the
general court to lay out "the balance of the 4000
acres because Dedham shortens us."
In 1736, the records were inspected and directions
given to the representative concerning that grant.
In 1715, on petition of Stephen Williams and oth-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 73
ers, 500 acres were granted to the town towards sup
port of the free school.
1683. was granted from Massachusetts a tract seven
miles square at Quatosset, called also " the grant of
land in the Nipmuck country," from the Indian tribe
of that name. This was afterwards called New Rox
bury, and is now Woodstock in Connecticut. It was
at first supposed to be in Massachusetts. The grant
was on condition of settling within two years, and
" maintaining amongst them an able and orthodox
godly mfnister."
The selectmen first sent out three men, (John Rug
gles, John Curtis and Isaac Morris, as appears by the
bills paid them,) who reported that " at Seneksuk and
Wapagusset the lands afforde encouragement for set
tlers," and then the town provided a field and allow
ed any men to go to view the lands, at their own
charge. In 1685, the town "voted cleare to treat
with Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Dudley, guardians to
Josiah, grandson of Chickatabut, the well known sa
chem, to obtain the Indian or natives right." In
1687-8, the town paid Jos. Dudley £10 for the pur
chase of the natives right to the township.
In order to settle this place, the town voted that
" if thirty men should hand in their names to the se
lectmen to settle them, they shall have one half of
the whole tract in one square at their selection, the
town to assist said planters and settlers with £100, to
be paid in small sums in five years, and to be laid out
:in public buildings as the old town of Roxbury shall
idetermine, the rest of the inhabitants to have the re-
10

74 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
maining half, and the settlers to be free from the rate
to raise the £100."
The affairs of this place fill the records for quite a
number of years. The lands were finally divided in
proportion to each man's head and estate, the castle
soldiers and troopers being added, and all such as
were over sixteen years of age. The allotments and
divisions are given at length in the Roxbury records,
which contain the first history of the town. Very
many ol the inhabitants of Woodstock are descended
from the first settlers of Roxbury. "*
This copy of a letter from the selectmen of Wood
stock to those of Roxbury, may be worth preserving.
" 1694, Dec. 18. Gentlemen, we understand by
" Capt. Chapen that you are dissatisfied upon a re-
" port that ye town had preferred a petition to ye
" Hartford Court, designing to wrong you. As you
" desire to be informed whether it was a town's act
" or particular men's act, we can assure you it was
" by no town voate or act, nor yet by order of the
" selectmen. It was done by some particular per-
" sons. And we do not know that they intended you
" any harm.
" This with our love and service to you is from
" your loving friends, Benj. Sabins,
John Butcher,
John Carpenter,
Edwd. Morris,
John Holmes."

CHAPTER VII.
Miscellaneous.
1636, The Roxbury people worked on the forti
fication at Cornhill, (Boston.)
1646. "This year, about the end of the 5th
month, we had a very strong hand of God upon us,
for upon a suddaine, innumerable armys of catterpil-
lars filled the country all over all the English planta
tions, which devoured some whole meadows of
grasse, and greatly devoured barley, being the most
grown, and tender corne, eating off all the blades
and beards, but left the corne, only many ears they
quite eat off by eating the green straw asunder below
the eare, so that barley was generally half spoiled ;
likewise they much hurt wheate, by eating the blades
off, but wheate had the lesse hurte because it was a
little forwarder than barley, or harder and dryer, and
they lesse meddled with it. As for rye, it was so
hard and near ripe, that they touched it not. But
above all grains they devoured oats. And in some
places they fell upon Indian corne and quite devoured
it, in other places they touched it not. They would
crosse highways by 1000.
Much prayer there was made to God about it, and
fasting in divers places, and the Lord heard, and on a

76 HIStORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I.
suddaine took them all away again in all parts of the
country, to the wonderment of all men. It was the
Lord, for it was done suddainely."
1646. "This winter was one of the mildest we
ever had ; no snow all winter long ; nor sharp weath
er. We never had a bad day to goe preach to the
Indians all this winter, praised be the Lord."
1647. The same yeare "a greate sicknesse epi
demical did the Lord lay upon us, so that the great
est part of the towne was sick at once, whole fami
lies .sick, young and old, none escaping, English or
Indian. " The nature was a cold, &c.
" God's colds are teaching. This epidemicall sick
nesse of cold doth rightly, by a divine hand, tell the
churches what their epidemical spirit disease is. —
God help us to see it: and to have such colds in the
height of the heat of summer, shows us that, in the
height of the means of grace^ peace, liberty of ordi
nances, &c., yet may we then fall into malignant
colds, apostacys, and coolings. And this is remarka
ble that, tho few died, yet some died, and those were
the choycest flowers and most gracious saints."
1661-2. "A synod at Boston. The questions dis
cussed were —
1. Who are the subjects of Baptism.
2. Who according to Scripture ought to be a con
sociation of churches and what is the name of it."
1662. "It pleased God this spring to exercise the
country with a severe drought, but some were so rash
as to impute it to the sitting of the Synod. But God
was pleased to bear witness against their rashness.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 77
For no sooner was the Synod met, June 10, but they
agreed to set the next day apart to ask God's favora
ble presence and to ask rain ; and the day following,
God sent raine from heaven."
1663. Jan. 26, an earthquake occurred.
1664. Nov. 17, a comet was seen and its position
is described. March 11, another comet was seen.
1665. Another earthquake is spoken of.
1666. The town paid for diet and attendance of
a lame Indian £1 : 6 sh.
The same year, they paid "for match and bullets
for the town, also for bisket and the Indian's bed,"
&c., and further "for ringing ye bell, expenses about
a lame Indian and for soldiers that were pressed to
the castle."
1667. "1 1th month 4th day. There were strange
noises in the air, like guns, drums, vollies of greate
shotte," &c.
1667. "12th month 29th, appeared a coma, or
blazing stream, which extended to a small star in the
river Eridamus, but the star was hid by reason of its
proximity to the sun."
1668. The town paid for "carriage of the Greate
Gunne and for warders on election."
This year the inhabitants were prohibited digging
any more clay at Boston Gate. The reason was that
the town was indicted that year for digging up the
highway at the gate and paid for it.
There was the shock of an earthquake felt this
year. And in the 3d month, 16th day, prodigies
were seen in the heavens the night before the Lord's
day.

78 history of roxbury. [Part I.
1678. The small pox raged terribly.
1688. The town chose Samuel Ruggles and Na
thaniel Holmes representatives, and instructed them
to do "what they can to establish a government for
the present as the general assembly shall think for
public good." But afterwards they voted that "they
desire the Governor, deputy and assistants sworn in
1686 to remain."
1691. "The old Watch House" is named "in the
towne street," and provision was made for a new one
on the meeting-house hill, and another at the plain,
and the town granted to John Howard "the old
Watch House, &c., fifty foot back towards the brook,
for that he will build the new one, he to dig for foun
dations, &c., and to lay a good substantial wall of
stone two feet thick, in clay, and pointed within and
without, walls to be six feet high by thirteen feet
long by eleven feet wide inside and a brick chimney
at one end, and cover the roof with deal boards and
shingles, and to provide a stout door and lock and
key." But the town did not build this. A new one
was built on the town street and another at the plain,
a few years after.
1693. Edward Weld was chosen clerk of the
market. 1696. The Representatives to general court were
paid 18 pence a day in money or corn at the rate.
1681. The town paid Ensign Davis four shillings
and six pence for work about the meeting house and
"cage." The cage was then common for punish
ment, but has given way to houses of correction, Sic.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 79
or jails. The word jail is said to be derived from
the old name of the cage.
1631. Wheat meal cost fourteen shillings a bushel,
peas eleven and sixpence, &c.
1633. There was a scarcity of corn, but people
lived well with fish and the fruits of their gardens.
1634. Corn was four shilUngs the bushel, some
at three, and some cheaper.
1634. Cattle were high. A good cow 25/. or
30/. A pair of bulls or oxen 40/. Corn was five
shillings a bushel. Carpenters had three shillings
the day. Board was nine or ten shillings.
1643. There was a long cold and wet lime, and
it caused a great scarcity of corn, and in every town
many families had to live on fish, muscles, &c.
In 1640-1, there was a change in public affairs in
England, which so affected things here that a cow
which the year before was worth 20/. could not then
be sold for more than 4/. or 51., and nobody could
pay his debts. This caused the colony to send out
agents, of whom Mr. Weld was one.
In 1 646, in a deed from John Stonehead to Thomas
Dudley, two oxen are valued at 16/. ready money.
In 1646, a cow brought 4/., a cow and calf GI., a
yoke of oxen 14/. ; English wheat was worth four
shillings a bushel, peas three shillings eight pence,
rye three shillings six pence.
In 1661, a cow was worth 51., a yoke of oxen 16/.
ia horse 16/.
In 1668, a cow was worth 31. to 4/., a yoke of oxen
10/., a horse 13/., Indian corn was at two shillings

80 history of roxbury. [Part 1.
per bushel, malt at four shillings, butter was five
pence a pound, cotton cloth sold for three shillings.
In 1683, a cow brought 2/. to 3/., sheep 6 shilHngs
a head, butter three pence.
In 1668, twelve acres of land on Stony River was
worth 48/., land at Gravelly point was held at 50/.
per acre.
In 1661, land at Roxbury Gate (next Boston) was
valued at 61. an acre.
In 1668, nine acres, " as you go to Boston," was
valued at 100/., and four acres at Pine Island at 40/.
In 1683, six acres of pasture on the south side of
the Great Hill was worth 24/., four acres of marsh in
the Island at 38/., two of fresh meadow at Bare
marsh, 8/.
In 1697, thirteen acres of plow land in the calv'e's
pasture was worth 120/.
Wampumkeage, or Wampum, is frequently named
in the old lists of estates.
People were well supplied with arms. For in
stance, in the parlor of Isaac Morrill, were hung up a
musket, a fowling piece, three swords, two belts of
bandoleers, a pike, a half pike and a corslett.

CHAPTER Vlll.
Ancient Localities,
Various localities are constantly named and referred
to in ancient documents. Some of these will be
found useful in tracing out titles and estates.
Boston Gates were at the line. Boston Neck ex
tended from this line one mile and thirty nine yards
to the fortification, built of brick, with a ditch, where
there were two gates, one for foot passengers and one
for carriages. They were originally for defence.
Those at Roxbury line were probably of similar char
acter, though less strong.
Clay Pits. These were near the street, where the
town's people used to dig clay for various purposes.
They were East of Roxbury-street and North of Dud
ley-street. In 1675 the town granted them to Ralph
Hemingway. An indictment was once found for dig
ging up clay at Boston gate.
The Landing Place. Some care must be taken
not to be misled by this name. There were two land
ing places. When what is now the empty basin and
the back bay was full, the town had one on the north
of the meeting house hill. The other was at the
point that extends down to the wharf, attatho-nwuiA of-
iSittJU) Rirci? U

82 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
Gravelly Point, was the point that runs out into
the bay at the mouth of Stony River, towards Cam
bridge. Bass Point, is a name met with for the iew first
years. Mills. A water mill was built at Roxbury, in
1633, by one Dummer. I have seen two depositions
taken in perpetuam, in 1702, of William Gary, then
aged 75, and John Ruggles sr. aged 70, in which they
say that they remember that fifty years before then
the tide mill was " Baker's Mill," and so called, and
that father Baker bought a piece of land for gravel on
the other side of the creek, and that ever since their
remembrance Thomas Lamb and his successors had
enjoyed the lane towards the mill, maintaining a
good and sufficient gate somewhere in the lane. This
was in the east of the town. Traces of a mill still
remain near Parker street. In 1684, the interest of
Thomas Baker (the son of John) " in the irons,
stones, land and privilege of the old tide mill in part
nership," was valued at £16.
In 1655, leave was granted to John Johnson and
others to set down a mill, &c. in or near the place
where the old mill stood, provided they maintain a
cart bridge sufficient for the town.
In 1666, liberty was granted to John Pierpont for
setting a Fulling mill on Stony River.
In 1663, an "old mill" is named which stood on
Stony River, near the place where the Providence
railroad crosses Tremont road, and is now known as
"Wait'S-'tnill:— •
There was a very ancient mill built' to grind. £»

Part I.J history of roxbury. 83
Roxbury and Boston, (i. e. Brookline or Muddy River,
then part of Boston,) which stood at the northeast
corner of Jamaica pond, at the outlet ; many old pa
pers are met with relative to it, and the drawing off
the pond. Farther up in town was a saw mill, on
Saw Mill Brook.
Muddy River, was the water which still stands in
Brookline, near the Punch Bowl.
Stony River, is the stream that runs bj^ Wait's mill,
and the corner of Centre street, under Hog's bridge.
There was a weir here in 1631.
Smelt Brook, runs under the roads at the foot of
Dudley and Washington streets, between Guild Hall
and the Universalist church. Mr. Young, the com
piler of the Massachusetts chronicles, probably came
out some hot dusty afternoon to find it, and not seeing
any thing like it there, concluded it must be the
brook "between the town and Dorchester;" but,
though it is hid by the great thoroughfares that pass
over it, it was once a considerable stream, and there
was once a large watering place there. This was al
so once known as " The Brook," and the " Town
Brooke," &c. The stream that divides the town from
Dorchester was called " Dorchester Brooke."
Saw Mill Brook, is the stream you first cross as
you come from Spring street church towards the Plain,
by the upper road.
The Great Hill, is now known as Parker's Hill, as
well as by its ancient name.
The Great Pond, is Jamaica Pond.
Clapboard Hill, is the name of the large hill in the
south part of the town, between Muddy pond and

84 HISTORY OF roxbury. Part I.J
Flaggy meadow. It was also known as "Flax Hill."
One might think there would be little danger of such
places being forgotten, and that there could hardly
be any question about their identity ; but as long ago
as 1728, the depositions of some Connecticut people
were taken to fix the location of this hill. The pres^
ent name is said to have been given from some clap
boards having been burned there.
Walk HM, still bears the ancient name. On an
old plan I find the name of Pig's Walk. There was
a hill which for the first fifty years was called Pig's
Hill. It may be the same.
The Training Place. The Old Training Place is
named in the Ancient Transcript. In 1631 the court
ordered that on the first Thursday of every month
there should be a general training of captain Under
bill's company at Roxbury and Boston. This must
have been a famous place in those days. Training
meant something then. The Training field was east
of the street, or Roxbury Street, and contained seven
acres or more, extending along where Warren and
Washington streets unite. The Town had only a
fight in it for training. In 1762 they sold that to
Joseph Weld.
The Common lay south of the road leading to Dor
chester. " Common Lands" are, however, not to be
confounded with this. They are often named in an
cient deeds, and refer to lands in the several divisions
which had not then been allotted. Twenty eight
acres of the Town Common was sold to Joseph Wil
liams in 1763, for £1431 16 shillings. The wood

Part I.J history of roxbury. 85
then sold for £1787 3sh. 2d. Fifty four acres were
sold in 1812.
Remingtonh Paradise, was on the road to Brook
line, near what is now called Parker Street. This
name occurs in 1653, and was given for the owner.
There is a place there still known by the name of
Paradise. Spring Street was named in 1690.
Jamaica Plain. The following account of this
name is given by the late pastor of the church at the
Plain. " Jamaica Plain, from its proximity to the
pond, was originally called ' Pond Plain.' How it
changed its name has never been really ascertained.
There are many legends upon this inquiry, but none
of them entirely satisfactory. One is, that it was so
baptized in consequence of gentlemen from Jamaica
spending their summers there ; which circumstance,
if true, might at once account for it. But it cannot
be ascertained, that any other than Timothy Penny,
Esq. who came to this country not earlier than 1767,
ever had a residence here ; whereas Hugh Thomas,
April 7th, 1677, ninety years previous, conveyed his
property for the benefit of a school ' to the people at
the Jamaica end of the town of Roxbury.'
" Another more probable, but not altogether satis
factory account is, that a gentleman by the name of
 , from some unknown cause, disliking his wife,
quitted London, informing hef that he was going to
Jamaica on business. Hearing nothing from him for
a very long period, she at length embarked for Ja
maica, in expectation of finding him there. But, to
her great surprise, she could not learn that he had ev-

86 HISTORY OF ROXBURV. [PaRT I.
cr been at tho Island. And a vessel from that place
going direct to Boston, she took passage, arrived safe,
and having frequently related the circumstance, at
length obtained accidental intelligence that an En
glishman had for some time past been residing with a
poor family in Roxbury, ' at the Pond Plain ;' where,
most unwelcomely to himself, she actually found him.
The story of his saying he was going to Jamaica, was
so often and ludicrously told, that the inhabitants de
risively, at first, called it Jamaica Plain, which name
it has since retained.
" The last, and to me most probable account 1 have
heard was, that the Indians, who at that time were
numerous here, used frequently to go to the street in
Roxbury for rum, and having accidentally met with
some Jamaica spirit, that greatly pleased them, they
woidd afterwards inquire for it, saying " Indian love
Jamaica ;" in consequence of which, the retailers cal
led them 'Jamaica' folks or Indians; from which cir
cumstance, the name became gradually familiar, and
all the inhabitants of this part of the town at length
acquired the name of ' Jamaica' Plain people, instead
of Pond Plain, as they had been usually called Ixv
fore." But it seems hard to say which of them is most im
probable, or to see what basis of fact the two last ac
counts, or the last especially, have more than the first.
If it is certain that gentlemen from Jamaica did not
make this loveliest of spots their summer residence in
1677, it is just as certain that there was no poor fam
ily for a nameless London gentleman to live with ;
" all the people of Roxbury were very rich," and this

Part I.J history oi' uom.uuy. <17
:lady who was never heard of before or since, A\oiild
hardly have named it Jamaica, from all the concern
that place had in her affairs. Furthermore, it does
not appear that the Indians here were numerous, at
any time, or that they used to go often to the street
for rum. It is altogether likely from Eliot's princi
ples and influence and care for the natives, and the
persons who traded in town, that Roxbury Street was
the last place an Indian would go to for any thing of
the sort.
The name was well known in 1677. It was writ
ten Jamaco, Jemaco, and Jameco. The name Jama
co End was used. " Pond Plain" does not appear to
have been the earliest.
Weedy Plain was at the west part of the town.
Squirrels Delight, was near Quenecticote lane, by
Jamaica pond, towards Brookline.
Pine Island, was towards Dorchester, in the bay ;
" on the river that leads to Dorchester tide mill,"
where the magazine is.
The Wolf Traps were towards Dorchester.
The Foxholes were west of Back or Walnut street.
Totman's Rocks, or Tatman's, were near the cor
ner where the pump stands at the corner of Centre
and Cross streets. The name was from John Tot-
man, who lived there.
The Calves' Pastures were on the road to Dor
chester. They embraced some marsh land.
The Thousand Acres were next to Dedham, and
are explained in connection with the town's bounda
ries. Gamblings End, was near School street, near Stony

88 HISTORV OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
River. The name was probably given from Robert
Gamblin, who lived next to Thomas Bell, on what is
now School street.
The " Salt Panns^'' were at the east end of the
town, towards the bay next Dorchester.
The Nooks, are very often referred to in old docu
ments, and often create perplexity. I find the name
was used for certain points of land, or knolls, that
made out into the meadows near the streams, and the
nooks next Dorchester and those on Stony River are
named. The name now conveys quite a different
idea. Rocky Swamp it is hard to identify. Several roads
in different parts of the town lead to "Rocky Swamp."
The chief one extended from what is now known as
Tommy's Rock, up to Stony River, through the val
ley. The road from Philip Eliot's, through Gamblin's
End, led to Rocky Bottom.
Pritchard's Island was a marsh, at the mouth of
Stony River. From an old deed executed by five of
the chief men of the town, as " atturneyes" of Hugh
Pritchard, granting to a large number of individuals
various portions of this marsh, it appears that this is
" an island now, by reason of the creeke that hath
been digged between the same and the land of John
Johnsons," and with the land, part of this creek was
granted. " Black Neck'^ is a name which occurs, the place
is not known.
Haeburn^s Neck. In 1694, the town voted "that
the lane which goeth out of the highway to the tide
mill and leadeth downe toward Gravelly Point, be-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 89
tween the land of the heirs of Mr. Samuel Danforth
;and those of Mr. Haeburn, commonly called Mr. Hae-
burn's Neck, should be layed open from the said high
way to the tide mill," &c.
Dudleys Neck, was north of the road leading to
Brookline. Bear Marsh, or Bare Marsh. The highway which
led " from the Dedham road at Polley's," (the corner
at Mr. Stephen M. Welds',) " by Mr. John Welds,"
(the street now South street,) led to a bear marsh,
which was off at the south of the Plain, towards Dor
chester and Milton. It embraced the meadows upon
the head waters of Stony River.
Meeting house Hill is where the first church stands.
Meeting house Lane is that part of Washington street
which leads up to it.

12

CHAPTER IX.
Accounts of the first settlers, their families, residences, ^c.
This contains every name in the town to the year
1650, so far as they are recorded in the various rec
ords of births, deaths and marriages of the town, and
the first parish.
George Abbot married Mary Chandler, Dec. 12, 1646. This
is probably the one named by Farmer as having come from York
shire and settled in Andover in 1647, and married Hanna
Chandler. ilfr. George Alcock came with the first company to Roxbury in
1630. He was deacon of the church and representative to the
first General Court in 1634. His son John, who was born in
England, came out with his father, and graduated at Harvard
College in 1646. He was a physician. Deacon George had
son Samuel, born 1637, April 16. His homestead of five acres
was south of Governor Dudley's, fronting east on the highway,
and west on the meeting house common. He died December 30,
1640. He had a brother Thomas, who was one of the first men
in Dedham. His sister married Edward Porter. "When the
people of Rocksbrough joyned to tbe church at Dorchester until
such time as God should give ihem opportunity to be a church
among themselves, he was by tbe church chosen express to be a
deacon to regard the brethren at Rocksbrough." "He made two
visits to England upon just calling thereunto." "He lived in a
good and godly sort and left a good savor behind him, the poor
of the church much bewailing him."

Part I.J history of roxbury. 91
John Alcock had twins, Ann and Sarah, born May 26, 1650.
Joanna died 1649, August 5. In 1668, Doctor Alcock bought a
house and eighteen acres, close to the church, of John Pierpont.
Hewry Archer married Elizabeth Stow, in 1639. She was
daughter of John, Henry Archer may have been the one at
Ipswich, in 164L
James Astioood came in 1637. His wife was named Sarah. —
He had James, born Nov. 29, 1638 : John, born Sept. 20, 1640,
died March 15, 1644 : John, born March 7, 1641 : Joseph, born
Nov. 19, 1643: Joseph, Nov. 10, 1644: Sarah, born Jan. 10,
1646 : Mary, born Dec. 21, 1647. He was dismissed to Boston.
His homestead, was next to Philip Eliot's, west of Stony River,
and contained four acres. After his death in 1654, his estate
was declared insolvent
Thomas Baker, whose wife was Elizabeth, had children, John:
Sarah, wife of Jabez Jackson : Marya, wife of Roger Adams :
Elizabeth, born Oct. 2, 1641 : Joseph, born Feb. 24, 1647: his
house lott of one half an acre was next the land belonging lo the
mill which he owned — he died in 1683. His will says he was
"old and blinde." His father was John Baker, who was freeman
in 1634.
Gregory Baxter, freeman in 1631 ; had Bathesbie, born June,
1632: Abigail, born Sept. 1634: John, born Dec. 1, 1639.
Thomas Bell came in 1635, was made freeman in 1636 ; he
had Sarah, born 1640 : John, born 1643, died 1643, 4th month.
His homestead was on School street, then the road to Gamblin's
end. His old house was torn down in 1765, and the present one
built in 1768, at tbe corner of Boylston street. His will is dated
January 29th, 1671, and was proved May 30, 1672. He left
Roxbury, had letters of dismission in 1654, and died in England,
but will be remembered as long as the free school endures, for he
gave to it all his property here, a bequest which, at the time was
a very great one, and which, with its accumulations, now renders
this institution one of the most richly endowed in the country.
A few more such would have made this school a college.

92 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [ParT I.
George Brand married Mathew Heath in 1643, his house lot
of one-half an acre was bounded "one side on Stony River, and
every way else on the common."
Daniel Bruer, or Brewer, was freeman in 1634 ; he had a son
Nathaniel, born May 1, 1635: Sarah, born March 8, 1638.—
Another son of his died in 1646. His son Daniel graduated at
Harvard College in 1687, and was a minister at West Springfield.
He died in 1689, at the age of 84. George Brewer died, 1646.
Edward Brigge, or Bridge, or Bridges, was freeman in 1639 ;
he had Thomas, born May 31, 1638. He died in 1683, aged 82.
He lived on the Dorchester road, west of George Holmes', where
he had eight acres.
John Bowles, or Bowelis, was freeman in 1640. He was for a
long time one of the most important men in town affairs, being
one of the feoffees of school, and often one of the five-men. He
was ruling Elder of the church. In 1689-90, he was Speaker
of the Court. He lost his wife, Dorothy, in 1649. In 1649, he
married Elizabeth Heath. He died in 1691. He had a daugh
ter Elizabeth, 1650.
John BurreU, whose wife was Sarah, had a daughter Sarah in
1634. Thomas Bumstead, whose wife was Susan, brought two small
children, Thomas and Jeremiah. Anna was born Jan. 20, 1639,
Hannah in 1641, Mary in 1642, Gerard in 1643. He was dis
missed to Boston, and died 1677.
Edward Bugby, or Boogby— Joseph, born June 6, 1640. An
infant born and died, 1642. His property in 1668 was invento
ried and appraised at £336: 06: 06. The home lot of three acres
with his house, which was on the right of tbe way to the great
lotts was valued at £100.
Robert Burnet lost a child in 1642.
Edward Blacksley, a widower, died in 1637. His daughter
Sarah died in 1638.
Jerauld Bourne had Jerauld, born August 6th, 1643.

Part I.] history of roxbury. 93
Ann Brabrook, an old woman, died May 20, 1648.
Arthur Cary, which may have been also written Gary, had
son Samuel born Sept. 22, 1638. He died in 1666. He had
other children, William and Nathaniel. His wife's name was
Frances. William Chandler came in 1637. He brought with him from
England his wife Hannah, and four small children, Thomas,
Hannah, John and William. He was made a freeman in 1640,
and died, the next year, of consumption, " a godly christian."
Edmund Chamberlain married Mary Turner in 1646. The
same name occurs in Chelmsford.
Richard Chamberlain owned a house and half an acre next
Rev. Jno. Eliots. The same name is found at Braintree.
Samuel Chapin. His wife was Sisly. His name is met with
at Springfield.
William Chase came in 1630, and brought with him his son
William. He removed to Scituate, and afterwards to Yarmouth.
Benjamin Child. His name occurs in 1648. He had land in
town and his name is in the Transcript, but he belonged to
Muddy River. In 1672, he was one of those there who contri
buted for building the church. His wife Mary was admitted to
the church in 1658.
William Cheany, Cheney, or Cheny, came in 1635, with his
wife Martha, and his children, Mary, Martha, John, and Daniel ;
had a son, John, born Sept. 29, 1639 : Mehitable, born June 1,
1643 : Joseph was born June 6, 1647. He died in 1666, aged
63. His property amounted to £886: 01 : 04.
John Carman came in 1631, with Florence, his wife. His son
John was born in 1633, Caleb in 1639.
James Clarke, His children, Elizabeth and Mary, were bap-
' tized June 8, 1645 ; Martha, born April 25, 1648 : Hanna, born
Dec. 23, 1649.

94 history of roxbury. [Part I.
Robert Cole came in 1640, with the first company. He was
one of the two that were chosen in 1632, from each town, to con
fer with the assistants, &c. He was made freeman in 1631. He
removed, probably to Ipswich.
Philip Corey married Mary Scarboro, Oct. 1, 1647.
Stockiale Coddington. His wife, "an antient woman, not of
this church," died in 1644.
William Coy married Grace Newell, Sept. 14, 1644.
Griffin Crafts was son in law of John Ruggles. His son
John's birth, July 10, 1630, is the first recorded in the town.—
Mary, was born Oct. 10, 1632: Abigail, March 18, 1634 : Samuel,
Dec. 12, 1637 ; Moses, April 28, 1641. He was lieutenant, rep
resentative from 1663 to 1667, five years, and often selectman
and concerned in Town affairs. His descendants are numerous.
William Curtis, with his wife Sarah, was here March, 1632-3,
v/hen he was a freeman. They brought, from England, with
them, Thomas, died 1652; Mary, John, and Philip. They had
borti here, Hannah ; Elizabeth ; and Isaac, born 1642. Their old
est son William came out the year before them. " He was a
hopefulle schollar, but God took him in 1634." His homestead
of ten acres was bounded south on Stony River, north on R. Pep
per, west on J. Ruggles and John Totman, east on George Brand.
This has never been alienated from the family. It is now occu
pied by Mr. Isaac Curtis, the sixth in lineal descent (the oldest
of each generation having borne the same name) from William's
youngest child. It is tbe old place just beyond the railroad cros
sing on the right of Boylston street as you go towards the Plain.
One of his descendants in 1721 bought a horse and negro and set
up farming, and was the first man who carried vegetables to town
in a cart, instead of panniers.
John Dane married Ann Chandler in 1643, and died 1658,
leaving his wife and children, Frances, Elizabeth (How) and
John.

Part I.J histouv of roxburv. 95
William Davis was hero in 1642, had son John, born Oct. 1,
1643 : Samuel, born Feb. 21, 1644. His wife died, 1658. He
died in 1683, aged 66. John and William died in 1706.
Tobias Davis married Bridget Kinman in 1649, and died in
1690. He had a daughter Sarah, born Feb. 10, 1646. His first
wife, Sarah, died in 1648.
WUliam Denison was freeman in 1632. ¦ He brought over his
wife, and sons Daniel, aged about 20, Edward and George,
younger. He was a representative in 1635, to the general court.
In 1646, he lost his wife. He died in 1653, "an old man." He
was one of those dismissed in 1637, for their opinions.
Daniel Denison, his son, was a famous man in those days. —
He married Patience Dudley, a daughter of Thomas, the Gover
nor, at Newtown, and joined the church there, and went to Ips
wich. He was a military man, and held almost all ranks, up to
Major General. He represented the town for many years in the
court, was one of the assistants for twenty-nine years, and for
two years a speaker of the house. He died in 1682.
Edward Denison was disarmed in 1637, made freeman in 1648.
He married Elizabeth Weld in 1641. Had Elizabeth, born Aug.
8, 1642. A child named for John died in 1643; John was borr>
1644; Edward died 1645; Joseph died 1649; Jeremiah born in
Dec. 1647, died in May, 1649. He was a representative three
years, and died in 1668. He lived on Stony River. His estate
was valued at £1227 : 05 : 00.
George Denison was born in 1621. In 1647 he was a captain
in Roxbury. He was a freeman in 1648. He is named as " a
young soldier lately come out of the wars in England." He mar
ried Bridget Thomson, 1640. His wife died 1643. He had a
daughter Sarah, born March 20, 1641, and Hannah, born May
20, 1643, and a son John, born July 16, 1646. He removed to
Stonington. In Philip's war he was a bold and distinguished
leader. In 1676, with sixty-six volunteers and one hundred
Christian Indians, he slew seventy-six of the enemy without the
loss of a man, and took prisoner Quanonchet, the Narragansett
Indian, whom his Indians beheaded.

96 history of roxbury. [Part I.
"Old Mother Denison" came in 1632, and died in 1645.
Henry Dingham married Elizabeth Alcock in 1641.
Mr. Richard Dummer was the one who built a mill soon after
the settlement of the town. He is said to have been a very rich,
and very benevolent man. He removed to Newbury. He was
here in 1632.
Rev, Samuel Danforth was born in England in Sept. 1626,
and came to this country in 1634, with his father Nathaniel. He
graduated at Harvard College in 1643, was ordained minister of
the church September 24th, 1650, and died November 19th, 1674,
at the age of 48. He was teacher from the time when he gradu
ated till his settlement. In Mr. Dunster's account is one item of
£56 13,sA. Sd. paid Samuel Danforth, as Reader and Fellow, for
six years. He was one of the Fellows, in the College Charter of
1650, and seems always lo have taken deep interest in its wel
fare. It is said that he " wrote as a scholar," and " was very affec
tionate in his manner of preaching, and seldom left the pulpit
without tears." He was learned in the sciences and theology.
That part of the diary of the Pastors which he wrote indicates the
interest he took in astronomy, by its frequent descriptions of the
appearances of various phenomena, and of the situations and
movements of heavenly bodies. He published an account of the
comet of 1664, which probably led Mather to mention that " his
astronomical composures saw the light of the sun." From 1664
to 1670, the diary is filled with descriptions of prodigies, earth
quakes, comas, &c. His election sermon in 1670 was published.
In 1657, Mr. Danforth bought of Anthony Stoddard and wife
the estate which formerly belonged to Capt. Joseph Weld, for
which he paid £180.
Mr. Danforth married the daughter of Rev. Mr. Wilson of Bos
ton, in 1651. They had twelve children, some of whom were
distinguished. He was honored with a Latin epitaph, viz:
Non dubiura, quin eo' iverit, quo stellae eunt
Danforthus, qui stellis semper se associavit.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 97
Thomas Dudley came over in 1630, in the Arabella, with Win
throp. He did not settle here at first, though he came quite early
and settled in the town, and his family have been amongst its
most prominent citizens. He was born in 1674, at Northampton,
in England. His father, captain Roger Dudley, was " slaine in
ye warres," in battle, when Thomas was very young. "But God
took him up when he was forsaken, and stirred up some special
friends who took care of him in childhood."
It is said that some unknown person left him £500, and that a
Mrs. Pufroy, a vyidow, noted for her piety and works of charily,
took an interest in him, and by her care he got some little educa
tion, and was taught Latin and grammar.
He was afterwards page to the Earl of Northumberland, in
whose family he learned " courtship and whatever belonged to
civility and good behaviour.''
He then became clerk to Judge Nichols, a connection by his
mother. In this position he acquired some knowledge of the law.
When only twenty years old, he had become well known about
Northampton, for his wit, mettle and spirit, and Queen Elizabeth
gave him a captain's commission. He raised a company of eighty
men and went over to France under Henry IV. In 1597, he was
at the siege of Amiens, but the treaty being concluded before he
had had any fighting, he returned home.
At this time there were several eminent Puritans preaching in
that neighborhood, whom he often heard. Under their influence
the character of Dudley was fixed, and some new elements were
developed in it which changed its aspect altogether. His high
spirits showed themselves in his religious zeal.
Soon after this he became steward to the Earl of Lincoln, The-
ophilus, whose affairs he managed for about ten years. The
Earl's affairs were much involved. There were heavy debts up
on the estates, and a great deal of business to be done which re
quired not only energy and activity, but labor, prudence and
judgment. In this office Dudley met with complete success, as
is shown by the situation of the Earl's affairs when he left him,
and by the fact that he always retained the esteem and respect of
the family. He was the ,executor of Johnson, the Earl's son in
law. 13

9S history of roxbury. [Part I.
But his desire for a less laborious business, together with his
religious opinions induced him to hire a place at Boston, where
he could be under Mr. Cotton, with whom be became very inti
mate. He did not remain long here, however, before at the pres
sing call of the Earl of Lincoln, he again consented to take the
management of his affairs, and he remained with him till he came
to New England.
The first connection of Dudley with the Massachusetts colony
was when tbe Boston men promised " to adventure £400 in the
joint stock of the company, but afterwards that ten persons at least
should underwrite £25 each, and to adventure themselves £250,
and to provide able men to send over to manage the business."
His name first occurs at the meetings of the general court towards
the last of that year. In October he was chosen one of the com
mittee for the planters. In December he was chosen one of the
undertakers. He was chosen one of the assistants, and when
aboard the Arabella, at the last meeting held in England by the
company, it being found that Humphrey who had been chosen
deputy Governor could not come, Dudley was chosen deputy
Governor in his place.
He was then about fifty-six years old, but very strong in body
as well as mind. He had amassed some property, and, what was
of more moment, had had bis character developed and nerved by
long and varied experience, and by the very life that would seem
to be the fittest path for one to take who was to enter upon the
duties that were before him. Till his death he was one of the
governing minds of the colony. He always held one of the high
est offices.
Dudley brought with him to this country his wife Dorothy and
his children, Samuel, born in 1606, a minister, who married
Mary Winthrop; Anne, the wife of Governor Bradstreet ; Pa
tience, wife of General Denison ; Mercy, wife of Rev. Jno. Wood-
ridge ; another who married Major Keayne ; and Dorothy.
He first went to Newtown, which is now Cambridge, it being
agreed that the town and settlement should be there. But when
that arrangement was broken up, he went to Ipswich ; but he re
mained there only a short time, and from that place came to Rox
bury, where he settled, and the family still remains. He buiU
upon the west side of Smelt Brook, just across the watering place,

Part I.J history of roxbury. 99
at the foot of the hill where the road that runs up to the first
church, joins the Town Street. His house was nearly opposite
the apostle Eliot's, and stood where the Universalist meeting house
now stands. His old well is now there. There was a breast
work thrown up on tbe same place in the revolution.
We may judge of Dudley's character from his course in the
colony. In April, 1632, he left, one day, before the court was
over, and sent in a letter of resignation, which the governor and
assistants refused to receive. In May, they had a meeting to
consider the matter. Dudley then said that he resigned to keep
peace, for he felt bound in conscience to speak his mind freely
and that gave oflence, and he had moreover the right to do so
when he pleased. The governor and some others then took him
to do for some bargains he had made with some poor men of his
congregation, to whom he sold seven and half bushels of corn be
fore the harvest, to receive ten for it after, which they argued was
oppressive usury, within the meaning and letter of the statute,
Dudley held it was lawful, and he and the governor had high
words, and finally he told the governor plainly, if he had thought
he had sent for him to his house to give him such usage he would
not have come there, and that he never knew any man of under
standing, of any other opinion, and if he thought otherwise of it,
it was his weakness. The Governor then charged him with ex
travagance, in wainscotting and adorning his house, in the outset
of their settlement, alleging that they needed all funds and the
example was bad. Dudley replied he only put on the clapboards
in form of wainscot, and he did' it for warmth, &c. They finally
held that he could not resign, and he continued in ofHce. In Au
gust, again, when complaint was made of the governor for remov
ing his house from Watertown, Dudley showed his character.
He began by asking what authority the governor had more than
any assistant save to call meetings, and affirmed that he had
none. But the governor giving a reply that he had, that wound
ed Dudley ; he told the governor that if he was so round, he
would be round too. The governor bade him be round if he
would. He sprang up in great rage and fury. The governor
grew hot also, and it was with difficulty they were pacified by
the interference of mediators. Then Dudley asked by what au
thority the governor removed the ordinance and built a fort at

loo HISTORY OF RoxBtmy. Part I.J
Boston ; by what right he lent powder to Plymouth ; or gave the
Watertown people leave to erect a weir on the river ; by what
right he licensed Ratclif and Gray to stay in the colony, and why
he did not collect fines. The governor answered all these char
ges. He also recriminated. Such scenes show what Dudley
Was. In 1634, Dudley was chosen Governor, and was Governor for
three years, in 1634, 1640, and 1645. He was deputy thirteen
times. In 1635, he was chosen one of a commission to frame a
body of laws for the colony. In 1643, he was appointed commis
sioner to frame articles of confederation between the colonies.
In 1644, he was chosen Major General.
He lost his wife in 1643. In 1644, April 14, he married Kath
arine Hugburne, who had considerable property.
Diidley was a thrifty man, and, though somewhat advanced in
years, a very enterprising one. He became one of the largest
land holders. He was a trading, money getting man. From the
nature of the securities met with, and the records of the levies he
made, we may suspect there was some truth in the charges
against him, and that he really was somewhat hard and prone to
usury. The court gfranted to him in 1632, two hundred acres of
land on the west side of Charles river, over against the new town,
and in 1634, five hundred acres about the falls, on the east side
of Charles river. There he started the mills, and made money
out of them. In 1636, they granted to him a thousand acres,
" wherever it may hinder no other plantation." In 1640, his
part of the four thousand acres granted to Roxbury, being 460
acres, was made 500, and set out to him on Concord river.
He died in 1653, July 31, on the Lord's day, at night, in his
77th year. His property was valued at £1560 : 10 : 01. We
find, in his inventory, bandoliers, corselets, &c. some Latin books,
some on law, some that indicate a taste for literature, and many
^" the doctrines of religion he espoused.
At the time when the new lights of that day appeared, he was
mos.t earnest in his opposition to them. He even accused Cotton
of wavering and called him to account. He would have made a
good persecutor at any time. He seemed disposed to deny all
toleration to others, exactly in proportion as he had himself once
needed it. He did as men of strong passions are apt to do.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 101
Whatever cause he did espouse, had his whole heart. Whatever
he was against, found him a good hater.
He was a man of great spirit, energy and force of character.
His experience had been long, varied and great. His resources
and powers were fully developed. The station he had held must
have given him a degree of cultivation, of taste and manners,
somewhat, to say the least, above most of the colonists, though
not so great as Winthrop's. He was well versed in the details
and management, as well as the principles, of business. His
mind was cultivated, and his judgment mature and practised.
His knowledge of the law was good, and served him and the new
colony well. There is reason to suppose he drew the agreement
for the Free school. The clause binding the estates is in his
hand. Though not a polished writer, he was, by no means a
bad one, as his letter to the Countess of Lincoln, which is a treas
ure for other merits besides its literary ones, shows. He is said
to have been no mean poet. It is certain that one of his daugh
ters was a highly respectable one. As he had for so many years
such controlling influence in public affairs, perhaps it is not loo
much to say that the State is a monument to his knowledge, his
judgment, and his principles.
Allusion has been made to one prominent trait of his charac
ter, his religious zeal. He was a genuine puritan, stern and de
voted, asking no quarter for his own opinions, and giving none
to others; not merely esteeming religious concerns important be
fore all others, but so constituted that whenever religious affairs
presented themselves they absorbed al! others. Even in his will,
he says, " I leave this testimony behind me for the use and ex
ample of my posterity, and any others upon whom it may work,
that I have hated and do hate any false way in religion, not only
the old idolatry and superstition of popery, which is wearing
away, but many more late, being much worse, the raor# horrible
blasphemies and errors of late sprung up in our native country,
and secretly received and fostered here more than I wish they
were." An epitaph, which is ascribed to him, may serve to illustrate
this trait in his character. It will also show with what show of
justice any body could charge him with being a poet.

102 history of roxbury. [Part I.
Dimme eyes, deafe eares, cold stomach shew
My dissolution is in view.
Eleven times seven years lived have I,
And now God calls, I willing dye.
My shuttle's shut, my race is run.
My sun is set ; my deed is done ;
My span is measured ; my tale is told ;
My flower's faded and grown old ;
My life is vanished ; shadows fled ;
My soul's with God; ray body dead.
Fare well, dear wife, children and friends.
Hate Heresy. Make blessed ends.
Bear Poverty. Live with good men.
So shall we meet with joy agen
Let men of God in courts and churches watch
O'er such as do a toleration hatch.
Least ye ill egg bring forth a cockatrice.
To pay you all with heresy and vice.
If men be left and otherwise combine
Mine epitaph's I died no libertine."
Libertine meant Familist. Heresy meant what heresy always
means to him using the word. He whose blood does not curdle
at the fierce, cold, self-conceited, bigotry of the man, will al least
pity the folly, the weakness, the lack of christian charity of the
time. Yet, there can be no doubt that piety mingled in his con
victions. His intolerance was no cloak. His hatred of gospel
libertinism was sincere and conscientious.
He was one of unbounded hospitality, entertaining strangers,
poor English and Indians. He gave liberally. If he drove a
good bargain, he was a man of exact justice.
It is said there was on his tomb in the grave yard at the corner
of Eustis and Washington streets, a leaden plate that had an epi
taph upon it, which was torn off and run up into bullets in the
revolution. The epitaph was this :
"Here lies Thomas Dudley, a lusty old stud,
A bargains' a bargain and shall be made good."
f There must be some doubt whether it is genuine, but il indi
cates what was the estimate of his character. Indeed, all who
speak of him, unite in praising his ability, integrity, and love of
justice, and more especially his "hatred of disorder, and his

Part I.] history of roxbury. 103
antipathy to nil heresy and corrupt doctrine." He was styled
the "antient, honored and trusty soldier of the truth." He was
upright, and honest, and fearlessly spoke his own opinion in the
face of all men.
One of the clergy, Nathaniel Rogers, wrote this anagram in
his honor. It is worth preserving as showing the fashion of the
day. THOMAS DUDLEY.
Hold, mast, we dy.
When swelling gusts of antinomian breath
Had well nigh wreck'd this little bark to death,
When Oars gau crack, and anchors, then we cry
Hold firm brave mast, thy stand, or else we die.
Our orth'dox mast did hold, we did not die ;
Our mast now roU'd by th' board (poor bark) we cry.
Courage, our pilot, lives, who stills the waves,
Or midst the surges still his bark he saves;.
He wrote, also, the following Latin Epitaph :
Heluo librorum, lectorum bibliotheca
Communis, sacrae, syllabus historiae,
Ad mensam comes, hinc facundus, rostra disertus,,
Non cumulus verbis, pondus acumen erat,
Morum acris censor, validus defensor amansque,
Et sanae, et canae, catholicae fidei.
Angli-Novi Columen, summum decus, atque senatus,
Thomas Dudleius conditur hoc tumulo.
Another of them is worth noticing for a different reason.
In Eliot's diary'it is said that about the 16th of the 5th month,
1645, some nameless author sent to Dudley, then governor, this
anagram. THOMAS DUDLEY.
Ah ! Old, must dye.
A deaths head on yon you would not weare ;
A dying head you on your shoulders beare.
You need not one to minde you you must dye.
You in your name may spell mortalitye.
Young men may dye, but old men they dye must
Lord it can't be long ) , o , * j i
¦Twill not be long ^ T' ' ^""^

104 history of roxbury. [Part I.
Before you turne to dust ! Ah, Must, Old ! dye !
What shall younge doe when old in dust doe lye,
When old in dust lye ; what shall New England doe ?
When old in dust lye, it's best dye too.
Eliot was guilty of doggrel. This is in his vein. And it is
hard to see why he should have questioned the best reading of a
line, or noticed such a thing at all, or written it out at length, un
less it was his own.
Besides the children named already, Thomas Dudley had a
daughter Deborah, born 1645, and Joseph, born Sept. 23, 1647,
who was afterwards governor of the colony, M. P., &c.
The descendants of Dudley have been amongst the first men
in the country.
Mr, John Eliot, the next person whose name we meet, was the
counterpart of Thomas Dudley. He was born at Nasing, in
Essex, England, in November, 1604.
All that is known of his early life is that he was trained up
under the care of pious parents, and that, as he says "his first
years were seasoned with the fear of God, the word and prayer."
He received a thorough education at Jesus College in the
Cambridge University, where he took a degree in 1622. He
there laid the basis of a thorough knowledge of the original lan
guages of the Bible and of great theological learning. He was
particularly fond of philological studies, and became a critical and
an accurate scholar.
After leaving the University, he was engaged as teacher in a
school kept by Mr. Hooker, the eminent divine. There, no
doubt, he got the ideas which brought him to New England. —
He always said that "the days he spent with Hooker were a rich
blessing to his soul." It was "in the quiet sanctity of Hooker's
household," that his spiritual life was kindled into that expansive
energy which led him with unalterable purpose to the service of
God." He came over in the Lyon, which arrived November 3d, 1631,
and immediately joined the church at Boston. There he "exer
cised." He continued there till his removal to Roxbury. The
Boston people desired him to become their Teacher, and labored
all they could, with him and the church at Roxbury, to induce

Part I.J history of roxbury. 105
him to accept their call, but, regarding himself bound to his
friends at Roxbury, he could not be prevailed on to decline their
invitation, and he was dismissed lo Roxbury. He was ordained
Teacher of the first church, November 5th, 1632. Rev. Thomas
Weld had been invested with the Pastoral care, in July preceding.
It is generally said that Mr. Weld was settled after and under
Mr. Eliot, as his colleague. But this is a mistake. In October,
1632, Eliot was married to the lady to whom he had been es
poused before he left England, and who came on the year after
his arrival.
Though Eliot was young when he began his work here, and
had had little, if any, knowledge of the world, he, as well as
Dudley, had had just that education which best fitted him for the
life he had lo lead, Dudley was advanced in life, was guided by
judgment, prudence, and his will. Coming lo find an asylum
for his opinions, professing to hate heresy and intolerance, he
was himself most bigoted and intolerant. Eliot listened to noth
ing but the call of conscience. He cared for all men, but himself
least. He set earnestly about a work, from which he could have
hoped for neither fame, influence, or any worldly advantage. —
The best that can be said of Dudley, is, that he was well fitted
for the political service of that early day. Eliot had before him
the work of a christian missionary.
Eliot has been known to the whole world for his public labors,
and these we will first consider. Great, as must have been the
labors of his parish in those days, they did not deter him from
undenaking greater labors than any other man ever accom
plished. In the first place he set about learning the Indian lan
guage. It is said that he learned this in two years so that he
preached in it. But this statement seems to be improbable in
itself. Without book, or teacher, he had to grope his way from
the unintelligible sounds of the barbarous natives, into the mys
teries of a language that it would be no easy thing lo master
with all the helps of learning. He had first to learn to under
stand the common talk. Then he had lo learn the fit analogies
to express what he had to teach, for which they had no words,
but which he must still teach in the language of the natives. —
And he had also to study the Indian and reduce it to some sys
tem, to study its laws scientifically, as well as to learn the words,
14

106 history of roxbury, [Part I,
by memory, in order to reduce it to a written tongue. It is said
he took Job Nesutan into his family to learn the language. It is
much more probable that he had been studying the language for
several years. Amongst the deaths recorded in town is one, in
1646, of "an Indian who bad lived ten years with the whites,
and could read." From our knowledge of Eliot, we cannot help
believing that Eliot taught, and learned of this person. He was
no man to stand idle ten years, with the tools for his work
before him.
There were many Indians in the vicinity of Roxbury, and very
likely many within the town, though but rare traces are found of
them. Eliot first went to preach to them at Nonantum, October
28th, 1646. He preached there again on the eleventh, and again
on the twenty-sixth of November, in the same year. The whole
proceedings of the meetings are still preserved. After prayer and
a discourse, tbe Indians put such questions as suggested them
selves, such as these, How he knew Jesus Christ I Whether the
English were ever ignorant of Christ ? Whether Christ could
U7iderstand prayers in Indian ? How the world came to be full
of people, if all men were droivned in the fiaod ? Why sea ivater
was salt and river water fresh 1 These arid many more were put
at the different meetings. They are curious and interesting as
they show the operation of men's minds and of tbe religious sen
timent. But they are too voluminous for the limits of this sketch.
The accounts of the meetings were sent to England and soon af
ter published and excited great interest.
It was a maxim with Eliot that the Indians must be civilized in
order to their being christianized. Accordingly, he took the
greatest pains not only lo teach them the truths of Christianity,
but to show to them the benefits of the various arts known to the
English, and to urge them to industry, good order, and good gov
ernment. He looked to their physical comfort. " Cleanliness"
he considered " next to Godliness." On the organization of a
town at Natick, a simple code of laws was agreed upon, which in
dicate at once the habits of the natives, and the aim and obstacles
of Eliot. They punished 1st, idleness, 2d, licentiousness, 3d,
cruelty to women, 4th, vagrancy, 5th, looseness in dress, 6th, fil-
thiness in person. These were, no doubt, made by Eliot.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 107
Before, or about the time when Eliot commenced his labor at
Nonantum, he had visited the Indians at Dorchester mill, but was
not well received by them, though they afterwards desired him
to preach to them. He began with those in his immediate vicin
ity. The next year, he went to Concord to preach, when he con
verted the chief and gained converts in the tribe. In 1648, he
went to a tribe on the Merrimac, in 1648 to Yarmouth, after
wards to Lancaster and Brookfield. It was his custom for many
years to preach to the Indians once a fortnight. In 1670 he made
a journey to the Indians at Martha's Vineyard. In 1673-4 he
travelled through the country of the Nipmucks, who inhabited the
southern parts of Western Massachusetts and the North of Con:
necticut, preaching constantly and teaching them in their wig
wams. The progress he made was not rapid. It may be judged of
from the fact that, at tbe breaking out of Philip's war the whole
number of christian Indians in the Massachusetts colony was
about 1150. The work was beset with difficulties. King Philip
told the Apostle, that he cared no more for his religion than for a
button on his coat. Ninigret, the Narraganset sachem, when re
quested by Mayhew leave to preach to his tribe, told him to make
the English good first. There was great personal danger and
hardship. On one occasion, the life of Mr. Eliot was threatened
if be dared to visit a certain tribe, but he did not hesitate, saying,
" il is' God's work and I fear not," and he went, under tbe guard
of his friends and some christian Indians. In one of his letters,
he says " I have not been dry night nor day, from the third day
of the week unto the sixth, but so travelled, and at night pull off
my boots, wring my stockings and on with them again, and so
continue. But God steps in and helps." Gookin, a judge of the
Indian Court, said he was afraid to go through the streets alone,
Eliot was not proof against all hardship. In 1657, he was
'^ exercised by the sciatica, endanng much anguish and dolour,"
so that he could not preach for twenty weeks.
Yet he accomplished much. Under him the Indians became
neat, and industrious. They began to leave their old habits and
organize into civilized society. Several of their towns became
quite thriving and respectable. In 1647, on Eliot's petition a
court was established for the Indian tribe of Nonantum. The

108 history op roxbury. [Part I.
warrant of Mr. Justice Waban, " You, you big constable, quick
you catch um Jeremiah Offscow, strong you hold urn, safe you
bring um, afore me Waban, justice peace," and his righteous
judgment in the case, between the drunken Indians, " tie um all
up, and whip um plaintiff, and whip um fendant, and whip um
witness," have become equally well known, but the general good
order and thrifty condition of the Natick Indians is proof enough
of a wise administration of affairs. Even the ridiculous warrant
is equalled in brevity by one from the English court. " To the
Marshal, or his deputy. By virtue hereof you are required to
levy of the land of John Lamb to the value of £50 : 18, (and 2sh.
for this ex'on,) to satisfy the worshipfull Thomas Dudley for a
judgment granted at the Court held at Boston the 6th month."
In 1647, there was a synod which the Indians attended. A ser
mon was preached in the Indian language, and after it they had
an opportunity to put any questions that suggested themselves.
In 1650, the Natick Indians urged Eliot to allow them to forrij
a town. The Indian Town was organized the sixth of August,
1651. The regular formation of a church was conducted with
great caution, from conscientious fears lest the natives should be
admitted to communion without fit preparation. Repeated exam
inations were had, some of them public ; and, in 1660, an Indian
church was formed.
In connection with these labors, Eliot undertook and accom
plished others, designed to establish his work on a lasting basis.
He thought of making a translation of the Bible at least as early
as 1649. In 1651, he had begun il. In 1661, the New Testa
ment was published in Indian, and the Old Testament in 1663.
His labors for the Indians were the dearest objects of his heart.
The result he hoped for was one that it cheered his manly and
benevolent soul to think upon. He looked to the direct effect of
his own labors with the greater solicitude, because, having few
to aid him, he could not but feel how much the success of his
objects depended on his own single arm alone. He had not
merely to write but to'do much of the labor of printing also. In
a letter written concerning a secorfd edition of the Bible, which
was published in 1685, he speaks of having only one person be
sides himself able to conduct the work. This was the Indian
James, who got the sirname Printer from his calling.

Part I.] history of roxbury. 109
In speaking of this work, Edward Everett has said "since the
" days of the Apostle Paul, a nobler, truer, and warmer spirit than
"John Eliot never lived ; and taking the state of the country, the
" narrowness of tbe means, the rudeness of the age, into consid-
" eration, the History of the Christian Church does not contain
" an example of resolute, untiring, successful labor, superior to
" that of translating the entire Scriptures into the language of the
•'native tribes of Massachusetts, a labor performed under the con-
" slant burden of his duties as a minister and a preacher and at a
" lime when his spirits began lo flag."
But it seems to me that vast as was the undertaking, & however
common patience might have broken under so long and wearisome
a labor, the literary toil of Eliot was not so great as his mission
ary labors. In these, while he had few of the pleasures of study
or learning, he had quite as much tedious drudgery, and he had
also to encounter danger, to endure excessive hardships, and what
perhaps would be most trying of all, to withstand the attacks and
calumnies of the English, themselves. The feelings of many of
the English were hostile to his efforts. When the natives were
committing depredations on their property, burning their villages,
and murdering families all about, tbe English could not enter
with great sympathy into the feelings of Eliot. Besides this,
Eliot had the pain of seeing his best efforts thwarted, in a hun
dred ways, and the labors of twice as many years as it took him
to translate the Bible, undone in a moment, by some cruel or im
prudent act on the part of his own countrymen. Such things as
these will damp and dishearten one who fears no danger and
never is tired with the severest labor.
For fi)rly years, day after day, week after week, he continued
his visits to the Indians, not merely preaching, and holding
"talks" with them, but going about amongst them every where,
as the earliest code of laws proves, in the midst of every thing
loathsome and revolting. His feelings must have been bitter
when at the end of the war he found that more than half those
who had been numbered amongst the little body of his converts,
had renounced the faith, and taken up arms against the English.
In 1675, several captive Indians were brought to Boston.—
Eliot interested himself deeply in their behalf. His diary shows
how warm was his sympathy. But the people looked at it with

! 1 0 history of roxbury. [Part I.
jealousy, and nothing but respect for Eliot could have prevented
forcible interference. It was a sore trial for him to see men
ruthle.ssly rooting out the truths he had planted, and lo feel that,
such was the state of men's minds, no one would again attempt
to do what he had effected.
In 1675, is a note in his diary "soone after the warfe wh. ye
" Indians brake forth, the history wr. off I cannot, I may not re-
"lale, the prophane Indians proved a sharpe rod to the English,
" and the English proved a very sharpe rod to the praying
" Indians." After the war was over, he records how the soldiers welcomed
our Indians (the praying Indians) wherever they met them and
" led them to the ordinarys and made them drink, and bred them
" by such a habit to love strong drink, so that it was a terrible
" snare to us. They learned so to love strong drink that they
" spent all their wages and pawned all they had for strong
" drink," "so that drunkenness increased, quarrelling and filing,"
&;c. He then laments over the loss of their Bibles.
The translation of the Bible could not so severely lax all his
energies, as these labors. It certainly was attended with none of
the bitter discouragements he found in them.
Besides the Bible, Eliot translated many other books into the
Indian language. Baxter's Call, and the Psalter, were published
in 1664, the Indian Grammar, in 1666, several editions of Cate
chisms and Primers, the "Sound Believer," and some tracts,
about the same time.
Besides his Indian books, Eliot wrote and published several
English ones ; in 1665, the "Communion of the Churches ;" in
1672, the "Logical Primer;" in 1678, the "Harmony of the
Gospels." "The Christian Commonwealth," was also written by Eliot. —
This was a rare book and little known here till its recent publica
tion by the Historical Society. It probably appeared during the
latter part of Cromwell's government, or just before the restora
tion of Charles II, in 1660. In May, (the 22d) 1661, the Gen
eral Court deeming sundry expressions therein, "touching kingly
Government in England, offensive," "ordered that all persons
whatsoever in this jurisdiction, that have any of the said Bookes
in theire Custody, shall nn theire pprrills, within fnwertoaivtlayes

Part I.J history of roxbury. Ill
after publication hereof, cancel and deface the same, or deliver
them unto the next Magistrate, or to the Secretary, whereby all
divulgement and improvement of the said offensive Booke may
be prevented," and Eliot's acknowledgement be copied and
posted in Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, Salem and Ipswich.
He acknowledged the lawfulness of the English government,
and the error of such expressions as too manifestly scandalized
the Government by the King, as anti-christian, and that all forms
of government deduced from Scripture, are of God.
The Christian Commonwealth was a form of government,
which Eliot proposed to have adopted by the English Common
wealth. It was based on what he found in the Scriptures, and he
thought that no one could deny it without derogating from their
" sufficiency and perfection." It was upon a similar plan that
Natick was organized. The form proposed was for individuals
to organize into tens, or tilhings, tens into hundreds, and so up
wards, with rulers of tens, fifties, hundreds, thousands, &c. The
several rulers in their jurisdictions were to be judges and cases
were to be carried from one court to another up lo the highest
council chosen by the whole body. Each ruler was lo expound
the law according to the Scriptures, and each was to superintend
and direct those below him. The Supreme Council was to have
supervision of all. It was the highest court of law. It had the
power of declaring war and making peace, and the power of reg
ulating commerce, the arts, and religion. This he termed a*Sin-
gle Platform. But he contemplated the indefinite exterision of
the plan so as to embrace any number, and provided for rulers of
myriads, ten myriads, millions, &c. He provided also for the
choice of Princes, in populous Nations where there are other civil
distinctions of societies, to take care of the good government of
the superior rulers under them, and be members of the Supreme
Council, who should be chosen by the people over whom they
were to rule. For laws the Scriptures were to be the guide, be
ing, as he said, " the perfect system to guide all the morall actions
of man either towards God or man," the rules whereof the Judges
were to apply to each man, guided "by their wisdom and discre
tion, and a pure conscience." Each decided case would become
a precedent according to the principles of the common law.

112 HISTORY OF roxbury. [PaRT I.
The work shows that he was, as he said, no Statesman, in the
common acceptation of the term. It does not manifest any
knowledge of the science of political government, and its various
checks and balancing powers. On the other hand it indicates,
for that day, a liberal mind. It does not, like the early laws of
the colony, for instance, copy the exact penalties of the Mosaic
code; and unless limits are to be fixed, by construction, to his
plan, where he has placed none, there may be found in this work
the statement of a principle higher than has ever yet been
adopted by any government in the world, of the absolute harmo
ny of all laws. Divine and human, that no enactments of man
can be binding which conflict with the laws of God. Govern
ments have been based on the idea of the sacrifice of the rights
of individuals, and men have had hardly time to study the
theory of securing to each, perfect protection.
Eliot has been censured for his retractions, as an instance of
weakness. But, if the whole work be carefully considered, it
will be seen that he rather acknowledged that he had no desire to
promote civil dissention, and did not desire that the strongest
constructions should be given to a few phrases as perhaps appli
cable lo existing circumstances, but intended a general application
of his theory, whilst he still insisted on the general proposition of
the legitimacy of Divine laws for human government. Much of
the force of this will depend on the sense in which he intended
to speak of the laborer against Antichrist, whether as against a
single man, or for all noble works.
The inquiry which will most interest us, is how these labors of
Mr. Eliot were viewed and supported by his own people. And,
though no full account can be given of their labors with him,
there is evidence enough to show that they approved and aided
his efforts for the Indians.
Daniel Gookin, the one who, next to Eliot, was most active in
this work, lived, for a lime at Roxbury. In one of his letters,
Eliot speaks of asking advice of one of the Elders of his church
on some matter of importance concerning the Indians. This, no
doubt, was Elder Heath. In a later letter he speaks of the great
encouragement of the Ruling Elder. Another letter of that day,
written by one interested in those matters, mentions Eliot's broth
er as a "right godly and diligent person who useth to accompany"

Part I.J history of roxbury. 1 13
him. This was Philip Eliot. In another letter, Eliot speaks of
" four of us" going to the Indians. Very likely they were Gook
in, Heath, his brother Philip, and himself. In July, 1654, there
was a public examination of the Indians in Eliot's church at Rox
bury. There were several Indians who became members of his
church. From these circumstances, and the unbounded love and
respect felt by the Roxbury people for Mr. Eliot as long as he
lived, there can be no doubt that they did all in their power to en
courage his work amongst the Indians. In several instances vis
its of the Indians to Roxbury are mentioned.
Another circumstance is worth noticing. When tbe people of
Roxbury came to take up lands, they selected their locations ¦
amongst the praying Indians in the country then known as the
country of the Nipmucks, at Manchage, now Oxford, at Chabun-
akongkoman, or Dudley, Waanexit, Quatesset, and Wabquissit,
the present town of Woodstock in Connecticut, and other places
where the Indians had been converted to Christianity. This, cer
tainly, is a sure indication of the steady adherence of his fellow
townsmen, and their belief in the actual benefits of his missionary
labors. The same thing may be inferred from the fact that he never,
for one moment, held any but the first place in the esteem and
love of his own parish, those who knew all he did, and the mo
tives that governed him.
Of his labors in his ofEce very little can be told. But for near
ly sixty years he remained with the parish, and always was be
loved by all. There is not a word that is not in his praise. A
single anecdote, which was told by some of the ancient inhabi
tants of the town, shows what was the character that stamped it
self on their memories.
His charity was so great that his salary was often distributed
for the relief of his needy neighbors, so soon after the period at
which he received it, that before another period arrived his own
family were straitened for the comforts of life. One day the par
ish treasurer, on paying the money due, which he put into a
handkerchief, in order to prevent Mr. Eliotfrom giving away his
money before he got home, lied the ends of the handkerchief in
as many hard knots as he could. The good man received the
handkerchief and took leave of the treasurer. He immediately
15

114 history of roxbury. [Part 1.
went to the house of a sick and necessitous family. On entering
he gave them his blessing, and told them God had sent them
some relief. The sufferers, with tears of gratitude welcomed
their pious benefactor, who, with moistened eyes began to untie
the knots in his handkerchief. After many efforts to get al his
money, and impatient at the perplexity and delay, he gave the
handkerchief and all the money to the mother of the family, say
ing with trembling accents, " Here, my dear, take it; I believe
the Lord designed all for you." Whenever he is spoken of by
any of them he is named in terms of more than common endear
ment. It could not have been otherwise. He worked only for good.
He was earnest and sincere. The great principle of active benev
olence governed him in all his acts. I have alluded to the pain
with which he saw the white men tempt tbe poor natives, whom
he had partly redeemed, back to their evil life. No one ever
wept more bitterly than he did over the wrongs done to the red
man. But his sympathies were awake to every thing humane.
The facts noted in his diary show his character, and they strike
one the more as ihey contrast themselves with such as Mr. Dan
forth records side by side with them. Danforth records the dates
of earthquakes, ordinations, fasts, shipwrecks, the appearances of
comets and their positions, the weather, synods, accidents, and
gossip in general. Eliot thanks God that the £12 : 18 : 09 which
they raised to buy Edward Stowell out of Turkish captivity made
up just the sum needed. He speaks of the attempts made to re
duce Soulhold and Southampton, " because they stand for their
liberty ;'' of the Sabbath School ; of " the gracious gift of char
ity from the friends in Dublin for such as died in the warr;" of
bis visits to men, Indians and whites, in prison, and on the scaf
fold. Every thing tells of his philanthrophy.
In his parish he always declined taking wine, quietly remark
ing that it was an ancient beverage undoubtedly, but he believed
water was an older one. He utterly condemned the filthy use of
tobacco. He [preached and prayed against wigs and long hair,
and censured many fashions of the day as ridiculous. Some of
his biographers have set down his sentiments on these matters as
well as on war, temperance, and the treatment of the natives, to
his " prejudices." But they condemn themselves more than they

Part I.J history of roxbury. 115
censure him. He considered what was just, and thought of the
follies of fashion as they indicated and affected character. For
himself he saved, that he might be liberal. He never had but one
dish at meal. He wore a leathern girdle. Yet, notwithstanding
his great private benevolence, with his small salary, he accom
plished very costly undertakings.
When he could not preach, at the close of his life, he said to
the parish, "I do here give up my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ,
and now brethren, you may fix that upon any man that God shall
make a pastor." But the Society declined to receive it, saying
they deemed his presence necessary, whatever sum was granted
for his support,
" Mr. Eliot was peculiarly happy in domestic life. His wife
" was an excellent economist, and by her prudent management
" enabled {him to be generous lo his friends and hospitable to
" strangers. With a moderate stipend, he educated four sons at
" college." As a preacher, Eliot was very effective and popular. His man
ner was easy and pleasing, his voice sweet and clear, his style
plain, and free from the conceit of the day. He always was ear
nest and spoke from the fulness of his own feelings.
In a publication of 1654, Eliot is thus noticed :
"Mr. Eliot, Pastor of tbe Church of Christ at Roxbury, in
¦" New England, much honored for his labors in the Lord.
Greate is thy worke in Wildernesse, Oh man,
Young Eliot neere twenty yeares thou hast
In western worlde with micele toil thy span
Spent well — neere out, and now thy grey hayers gracest
Are by thy Land Lord Christ, who makes use of thee
To feede his flock, and heathen people teach.
In theire owne language, God and Christ, to see :
A Saviour their blind hearts could not reach,
Poore naked children come to lerne God's mind
Before thy face with reverent regard.
Blesse God for thee may theese poore heathen blinde.
That from thy mouth Christ's gospell swete have heard.
Eliot thy name is through the wild woods spread.
In Indian mouths frequents' thy fame, for why ?
In sundry shapes the Devills make them dread :
And now the Lord makes them their wigwam fly.

116 HlstORY Of RoXBuRt. [Part I.
Rejoice in this, nay rather. joy that thou,
Amongst Christs' soldiers hast thy name sure set.
Although small gaine on earth accrew to you,
Yet Christ to crowne will thee to Heaven soone fet.
Yet the "gray haired man" had not "spent his spanjwell-neere
out." For nearly forty years after that was written, did he keep
on in his work with the same energy, zeal and activity that he
had had when a young man.
There seems to be a fatality about the connection of whites
with the red men. It was- thought that Eliot was founding a
great work. But it failed and ended with him. The very last
descendant of the Natick town has gone. His code of laws was
condemned by his own friends, from the meanest fawning on
power. His college never graduated so many as it took to plan
it. His schools soon ceased. His books are rare curiosities. —
Even the Bible, to which he trusted to bless millions, and to ele
vate a race of men, cannot be read by a single man in the whole
world. The Indians are driven away thousands of miles from
the spot where he believed they would live as civilized men. —
Even in his own day he saw his converts melting away under
various influences ; and now he seems to be esteemed by the
World as one of its good men : some, with Everett, associate
greatness with his name. Yet even his biographers speak of
him as "the good old man," "the pious heart," in the pitying tone
oftener than in the true significance of those honorable words,
and apply lo his labors the eternal test of every thing but truth
and nobleness, cui bono. Thus weighed, as we have seen, his
labors "amount to" nothing. He left a true life.
Yet Eliot was great, in the highest sense. To a heart run
ning over with Christ-like love, to a spirit which, for untiring
resolution, ihe world has never equalled, he added lofty and lib
eral views. Could he but furnish to- a few about him the ele
ments of knowledge, teach them the gospel, open paths for others,
make a grammar, write the language, found Indian schools and
colleges, print the Bible so that the natives could read it, teach
them the benefits of art and industry, organize their society and
government, he looked forward with the faith of a prophetic soul,
to results which would put to shame all that most of the world's
"great" men have done. He was more than a laborious mission-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 117
ary, more than such as Penn. His vvorks and plans show a
mind of the highest order. Results, so called, are a fallacious
test of merit. The man must be weighed, independent of his
success. How could Eliot be measured, for instance, with Thomas Dud
ley. One was a public man, loaded with honors, a rich man, "a
zealous defender of the faith." The other went quietly to work,
almost alone, spending all he had, encountering danger and earn
ing reproach. In their characters all is contrasted. One was a
man of the world. The other was spiritual, living out what he
used to say, "Heaven is here."
The traits of character, which strike men most, in Eliot, are
his purity and spirituality, his ardor and resolution, his benevo
lence and humility. He was a Christian. He was complete
and well balanced. About all he said and did, there is that re
pose which seems lo be characteristic of the works of a great
soul. In almost his last letter lo England, as earnest as ever
about the Indian work, with which he is identified, he speaks
with perfect calmness of his death as "drawing home." By con
sent of the world, Eliot has been named an Apostle. "His mem
ory is precious."
He lived nearly opposite Thomas Dudley's, on the other side
of the Brook, just back of the spot where Guild hall stands.
He died May 20th, 1690, in his 86th year, and was buried in
what was called "the minister's tomb," in the first burial place, a
tomb which was built by subscription partly, and to which the
families of the ministers had some right.
The following is the record in the book of the first Church, in his
own hand.
Mr. John Eliot he came to N. E. in the 9th month, 1631 ; he
left his intended wife in England, to come the next year. He
adjoyned to the Church at Boston and there exercised in the ab
sence of Mr. Wilson, the pastor of the Church, who was gone
back to England for his wife and family. The next summer, Mr.
Wilson returned, and by ye time the Church at Boston was in
tended to call him to ofiice, his friends were come over, and set
tled at Rocksbrough, lo whom he was first engaged that if he
were not called before they came, he was to be joyned lo them

118 HISTORY OF roxbury. [PaRT I.
whereupon the Church at Rocksbrough called him to be Teacher
in the end of the summer, and soon after, he was ordained to the
office in the Church. Also, his wife come along with the rest of
his friends the same time, and soon after their coming, they were
raariied, viz: in the 8th month, 1632. Hannah, his first born
daughter, was born the 17th day of 7th month. Anno, 1633:
John, his first-born son, was born 31 of 6th, 1636: Joseph, born
20th, 10th, 1638: Samuel, born 22d of 4th, 1641: Aaron, born
i9th of 12th, 1643 : Benjamin, 29th of llth, 1646.
Philip Eliot, the brother of John, came in 1635, freeman in
1636. He was a man of influence in the town, being often se
lectman. He was feoffee of the school property, commissioner
for government of the town, deputy, several years a representa
tive, and for a long time deacon of the church. He died in 1657,
the 22d of the 8th month. The church records thus give his
character. "He was a man of grace and very faithful, lively,
useful and active for God." In the school records, or history, he
is not named as teacher, but, from the documents, it appears
that he was chosen a teacher of the free school. His property
was appraised in 1658 at £310 : 01 : 10. His will provided that,
after the death of his widow Elizabeth, Richard Withington of
Dorchester, John Aldis of Dedham, and John Smith of Dedham,
should make division of his property in right of their wives. He
lived west of Stony River.
John Evans.
Jacob Eliot, senior. In 1661, an inventory was taken of his
property, in which he is spoken of as " formerly deceased." It
names " Jacob Eliot, jr." " mares and colts at Brantry with Fran
cis Eliot," and a " mare at Sudbury."
Margery Eliot died in 1662, worth £294 : 19 : 08.
Samuel Finch was made freeman in 1634. His wife was Mar
tha. He lived near Hugh Pritchard.
Mr, Joshua Foote had house and four acres next to Thomas
Weld's. Robert Gamblin, jr, came in 1632, and brought with him John
Mayo, the son of his former wife. His wife's name was Eliz-

Part I.J history of roxbury. 119
abeth. His father settled in Concord. He settled on Stony Riv
er, just North of Thomas Bell's. The children born to him here
were Elizabeth, born June 24, 1634; Joseph, born March 14,
1636; Benjamin, born 1639; Mary, born March 6, 1641. He
was made freeman in 1634, and was a person of some weight in
town concerns. Gamblin's End, no doubt, took its name from
him. One of his daughters married Isaac Chenery.
Mary Gamlin, a maid servant, daughter of Robert Gamlin, sen
ior, came in 1632, and died in 1633.
Arthur Gary, or Gery, (see Cary,) had a house with five acres
next to William Heaths. He died in 1666.
William Gary had a homestead of five acres, west of Stony
River. Thomas Garner, or Gardner, married Lucy Smith, 1641, had
Andrew, born March 5, 1641 ; Thomas, born 1645 ; Abigail,
born Feb. 15, 1645, died 1649 : Mary, born April 9, 1647; Pe
ter, baptized Sept. 8, 1650. He died July 15, 1689.
" Our aged Sister" Gardner, died 1658.
Peter Gardner, or Garner, married Rebecca Groote in 1646 ;
had son Peter, June 24, 1647 ; Rebecca, baptized Nov. 9, 1647.
Samuel Garner and Lieut. Samuel Garner, are named in the
records as slain by the Indians in 1676. Samuel was son of Pe
ter. Mr, John Gore was freeman in 1637. His son John was born
in England, May 23, 1634. Obadiah was born here June 27,
1636, and died," 1646; Abigail, born Aug. 5, 1641, died, 1642;
Abigail, baptised May 5, 1643; Hannah, born May 5, 1645;
Obadiah, baptised, 1649. His homestead of four acres, was west
of Stony River, and bounded on the way leading to the landing
place and tide mill. He died in 1657. The children of his who
were then living, were John, Mary, Samuel, Abigail and Hannah.
, John was clerk of the writs in 1632. Governor Gore was of this
family.

120 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
Joh7i Gorton, whose wife was named Mary, died, 1636. He
had six acres called the "Wolf's Trapp," east of the Dorchester
road, bounded on William Parke's and William Cheney's. His
daughter Mary died Aug., 1636. He had Mary, born 1641;
Sarah, baptized Jan. 4, 1643; Mary, baptized July 6, 1646.
Daniel Googan had daughter Elizabeth in 1644.
John Graves came in 1633, freeman, 1637. His wife was Ju
dith Alward. They were married in 1635. They had Hannah,
born 1636. They brought five children. He died in 1644,
leaving Jonathan, John, Mary, and Samuel. The will of John
Graves, junior, is recorded in 1646.
Old Mrs, Graves died in 1644, aged 80 years.
Richard Goade married Phebe Hews in 1639. Children, John
and Hannah, baptized 1643. Hannah, born 1641 ; Mary, born
June 23, 1644 ; Phebe, born March 12, 1646 ; Joseph, born Sep.
21, 1647, died, 1648. He had a homestead of three acres on
the Dorchester road,
Thomas Griggs married Mary Green in 1640. His former
wife died in 1639. He died in 1646.
Samuel Hagborne, or Hugburne, or Haeburne, had children,
Elizabeth, born April 24, 1635; Samuel, born 1637; John, born
1640 ; Hannah, born Jan. 5, 1642. He lived East of the Street
now Roxbury Street. He died in 1642, the 24th of the llth
month. He was a rich man. In his will he provided that ten
shillings per annum should be paid to the free schoole of the
towne, when they should set one up, out of the neck, then and
long afterwards called Hagburne's or Haeburne's neck, and ten
shillings out of the house and home lot. His "widow" is named
in the Church records.
John Hale. [Name alone.]
Margery Hammond, a maid servant, came in 1632, and was
married to John Ruggles.
Hanchet, the same name probably as Hansen, married Eliza
beth Perry in 1644. Had son, Thomas, in Oct., 1645 ; Samuel

Part I.J history of roxbury. 121
died, 1646; Hannah, one born in 1647 — another born Oct. 14,
1649, died, 1649.
Robert Harris, married Elizabeth Boffer in 1642, had child
Elizabeth, born 1644, and Timothy, baptized July 9, 1650.
WiUiam Heath came in 1632, and brought five children, Mary,
Isaac, Martha, Peleg, Hannah. He was freeman in 1632-3, and
representative to the first general court, and for six years. He
died in 1652, an " able, godly and faithful brother." His first
wife (and daughter Mary) were named Speare.
Isaac Heath was made freeman in 1636, was representative in
1637-8. An infant child of his died in 1641. His house was
west of the road that led from Boston to the meeting house. He
was ruling elder, and brother to William. He was one of the
chief men in town.
Isaac Heath, (probably a son) was made freeman in 1652, mar
ried Mary Davis in 1650, had son, Isaac, born 1655. He lived
on Stony River, and had four acres there, bounded West on high
way on the hill.
Israel Heath was a representative in 1636-7.
Peleg Heath was freeman in 1652.
William Healey was here in 1647. He had a house and mill
lot of three acres, bounded South on the highway. North on Hugh
Prichard, (who lived east of the road to Brookline) West on the
way to the landing place. Elizabeth was born Nov. 9, 1647 ;
Samuel died 1646.
Ralph Hemingway, or Hemenway, " a man servant," married
Elizabeth Hews in 1634, and was made freeman the same year.
His daughter Mary died April 4, 1634. He had children, Mary,
born May 1, 1635; Samuel, born June, 1636; Ruth, born Sept.
21, 1638; John, born 1641 ; Joshua, born 1643 : Elizabeth, born
May 31, 1635; Mary, born April 7, 1647. He lived at the East
end of the town. His death is recorded in 1699. He seems to
have been active in town affairs.
16

122 history of roxbury. [Part L
Joshua Hewes, or Hues, came in 1633, married Mary Goldstone
in 1634. He had Joshua, born and died in 1639, and it is said
another Joshua in 1639 ; Mary, born Dec. 29, 1641 ; Joshua,
born 1644.
WiUiam Hills, a man servant, came in 1632, freeman in 1634,
married Phillis, daughter of Richard Lyman. They removed to
Hartford, Conn.
Thomas Hills, a man servant, came in 1633.
George Holmes had a son Nathaniel, born 1639, who was af
terwards a representative in 1689, and a daughter Deborah, born
and died in 1641 ; and an infant, in 1642 ; another Deborah died
1646. His homestead of five acres was North of the way to Dor
chester Brook, next to Thomas Pigg's.
Abram How had children, Isaac, born June 24, 1639 ; Israel,
born 1644; Deborah, born Sept. 4, 1641. His wife died 1645.
He died in 1683.
Isaac Johnson was made freeman in 1635. In 1636 he mar
ried Elizabeth Porter. He had children, Elizabeth, baptized Dec.
25, 1637 ; John, born Nov. 3, 1639 ; Joseph, born and died 1645 ;
Mary, born April 24, 1642; Nathaniel, born 1647; Isaac, born
1648. He was a representative, and captain of the artillery com
pany. Captain Johnson and five other captains were killed by
the Indians at the taking of fort Narragansett, Dec. 19, 1675.
John Johnson, freeman in 1631. He was generally in public
life. He represented this town in the first general court, and for
fourteen years afterwards. He was a military man also, and was
" appoynted surveyor generall of all ye armyes.'' The public
stores were placed in his house, and it was when that was burnt
and blown up that the town records were destroyed. He died
Sept. 29, 1659, leaving £660. He kept tavern. Many public
meetings were held at Brother Johnson's.
Edward Johnson owned a house and two acres or more joining
the clay pits.
Humphrey Johnson married Ellen Cheney in 1642. They had
a child, Mehitable, 1644 ; Martha, Sept. 12, 1647.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 123
Lewis Jones had daughter, Phebe, born 1645, she died 1650.
Thomas Lamb came in 1630, and brought his wife Elizabeth,
and two children, Thomas and John. He had also Samuel, born
1630, and baptized at Dorchester ; Benjamin, born 1639 ;^aleb,
born 1641 ; Joshua, born 1642. He lost his wife in 1639, and
married Dorothy Harbittle in 1640. His sons went to Spring
field and Watertown. He died in 1646, and left £112 : OS : 01.
He had a homestead of eighteen acres, betwixt the meeting house
and Stony River, adjoining the lots of Isaac Heath and John
Johnson. John Leavens, or Levinz, came in 1632, freeman in 1634. In
1639 he married Rachel Wright. They had John, born 1640 ;
James, 'oorn 1642 ; Peter and Andrew, born 1644 ; Peter, one of
the twins, died 1644 ; Rachel, born Aug. 1646. He lived on the
Dorchester road, where he had a lot of seven acres and house.
He died in 1647, 15th, 9th, " an ancient godly christian." His
first wife Elizabeth died Oct. 10, 1638.
William Leivis came over in 1630, and was a proprietor of
Cambridge and admitted freeman in 1632, but returned lo En
gland and was married there. He had two sons born in England,
John, born Nov. 1, 1635 ; Christopher, born 1636. Lydia was
born here 1640 ; Josiah, born 1641. He lived next to William
Heath's. William Lyon came in 1635, married Sarah Ruggles in 1646.
John was born 1647, April 10 ; Thomas, baptized Aug. 8, 1648;
Samuel, Jane 10, 1650.
Richard Lyman, freeman in 1633, came in 1631, and brought
Phillis, Richard, Sarah and John. " He was an ancient chris
tian, but weak. He went to Conecticot, and met great affliction
for going near winter," lost his cattle, &c. He died in 1640.
John Mathew had children, Gertham, born 1641 ; Elizabeth,
born 1643. He is said to have removed to Springfield, and died
in 1684. " Being convict of notorious drunkenness and not hold
ing remorse, he was excommunicated."
Robert Mason, his wife was buried in 1637.

124 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I.
John Mayo, son of Robert Gamblin's wife by a former husband,
came in 1632, "but a child." He married Hannah Graves. His
sister was "a very gracious maiden."
John Mayes had a house and lot between Thomas Bells and
Robert Gamblins, on Stony River.
Philip Meadows married Elizabeth Ingulden in 1641. They
had a child, Hannah, born 1642.
Thomas Meakings married Elizabeth Talstori. She died in
1650. The same year, Sister Meakings, the old woman, mother
to brother Meakings, died. Thomas had daughter Hannah, born
March 13, 1647.
Mr. John Miller, a preacher, came lo this country in 1637.
His daughter Mehitable was born here in 1638, and Susannah in
1648. He went afterwards to Rowley, where he was minister,
and held various ofldces. He died in 1663, at Groton.
Isaac Morell was born in 1588, and came out in 1632 ; he was
freeman in 1632-3. He had the following children here, viz :
Isaac, born Nov. 27, 1632, died Jan. 31, 1633 ; Hannah, born
Sept. 12, 1636 ; Abram, born 1640. Elizabeth his daughter died
in May, 1638. Sarah, a daughter of his, married Davis, and
died in 1648. He had two houses and two forges. In 1720,
one of these belonged to Samuel Stevens, his great grand son.
He died in 1661. His will names his children Catharine (Smith,)
and the wife of Daniel Bruer.
James Morgaine married Margery Hill in 1640. His son John
was baptized Sept. 30, 1645. Hannah, born July 18, 1642. In
1651 he was here.
Abraham Newell came in 1634, and brought with him Ruth,
Grace, Abraham, John, Isaac and Jacob. One of his daughters
married William Toy. He died in 1672, at the age of ninety-
one. Robert Onion. A child of his died in 1642. His wife, Mary,
died 4lh, 2d mo., 1643.
Edmund Parker married Elizabeth How in 1647.

Part I.J history of roxbury. J 25
Nicholas Parker, with Ann, his wife, came in 1633 and brought
Mary and Nicholas : Joanna was born in 1635. They removed
to Boston. William Parker had children, Theodore, born July 26th, 1637;
Hannah, born August 28, 1639, died 1646 ; John, born June 30,
1645. Deacon William Parke came in 1630 : "was one of the first
in the Church at Rocksbrough." He afterwards married Martha
Holgrave, of Salem. Martha was born May 2, 1641; Sarah,
baptized Nov. 19, 1643 ; John, a son of his, died in 1646, not a
year old ; Deborah died in 1649, the 14th of 6ih month. He
lived on the North side of the road to Dorchester. He was rep
resentative of the town for thirty-three years, often selectman,
and a man of influence. "He was a man of pregnant under
standing and useful in his place." He died in 1685.
Giles Pason, or Payson, came in 1635, married Elizabeth
Dowell in 1637. They had children— Elizabeth, born in 1639,
and died, 1639 ; Samuel, born Nov. 7, 1641 ; Elizabeth, born
Feb. 14, 1644 ; Sarah, born July 16, 1648. He was a man who
held town offices often. He died in 1688. His homestead of
five acres was on the Dorchester road. He was deacon.
Edward Payson, a man servant, married Ann Parke in 1640.
She died in 1641, and, the next year, he married Mary Eliot. —
His children were Marah, born Sept. 22, 1641 ; John, born June
11, 1643; Jonathan, born Dec. 19, 1644; Ann, born April 26,
1646 ; Joanna, born 1649. He had afterwards a son Edward, a
clergyman of Rowley, whose descendants are numerous.
Joseph Patching married Elizabeth Ingulden in 1642.
Christopher Peake, freeman in 1635, married Dorcas French
in 1636. They had Jonathan, born Oct. 17, 1637 , Dorcas, born
1639; Hannah, born Jan. 25, 1642; Joseph, born Feb. 12, 1644.
He died in 1666. An infant died 1647.
Richard Peacock had Samuel in 1639 ; Caleb, March 1, 1641.
He died at Boston in 1691.
William Per Mm lost a son William in 1639. Another of the
same name was born in 1641.

126 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT I.J
John Perry was freeman in 1633. His son John was born in
1639. He died in 1642. His heirs occupied his place of two
acres on Heath's Lane, on the South side, and East of the high
way leading from it. Besides John, he had Elizabeth, born Jan.
25th, 1647 ; Samuel, born March 1, 1640.
Robert Pepper married Elizabeth Johnson, March 14, 1642.
She died in 1643. He was made freeman in 1643, and was at
Springfield as early as 1645. His children were Elizabeth, born
May 25, 1645; John, born April 8, 1647; Joseph, born March
18th, 1649. His homestead of two acres was West of Stony
River. He died in 1682. In 1675, Robert Pepper was captured
by the Indians on his way to Northfield.
John Pettit. [Only his name occurs.]
Thomas Pigge was here in 1634, and made freeman that year.
His wife was named Martha. They had a daughter Martha in
1642. He died at Dedham in 1644. His homestead of three
acres was on Dorchester Brook, between land of George Holmes
and Ralph Hemingway. His children named in his will, are
Thomas, John, Henry, Saray, Mathew, Mary.
Christopher Pickett married Elizabeth Stowe in 1647.
John Pierpmit was son of John, who came from England, and
settled in Ipswich. He had five children, John, who died with
out issue ; James, called in an old agreement, "a student in ye
liberall arts," who was a preacher, and settled in New Haven ;
Joseph, who had no children ; Ebenezer ; Benjamin, who died
without children ; and Experience. A daughter Thankful was
born Nov. 26, 1649, and died Dec. 16, 1649. John was grantee
of the will in 1655, and died in 1682, at the age of 64. He prob
ably came to Roxbury about the year 1648, when he bought John
Stowe's place on the hill.
Edward Porter came in 1636, and brought with him John,
about three years old, and William, about one year. His daugh
ter Elizabeth was born Dec. 25, 1637 ; Hannah, born October 18,
1639; Mary, born 1642 ; Joseph, born 1644 ; Deborah, born
April 26, 1646. Had homestead of thirty acres.

Part I.] history of roxiufry. 127
William Potter married Judith Graves in 1646.
John PoUy died in 1690. His homestead of eighten acres was
on the way to Beare Marsh. He had twins, Mary, and Sarah,
born June 2, 1650.
Valentine Prentice " came to this land in the year 1631, and
joined the church in 1632. He brought but one child, his son
John, and buried another at sea. He lived a godly life, and went
through much affliction by bodily infirmity, and died, leaving a
good cup of gentleness behind him." His wife Alice, after his
death, married John Watson.
William Pynchon, commonly called the founder of Roxbury,
came in 1630, and was one of the first foundation of the church.
He brought with him his wi.'e, who died soon after they came,
and his children Ann, Mary, John, and Margaret. After some
years he married Mrs. Frances Samford of Dorchester, a grave
matron of the church. When so many went to plant Conecticot,
he also went with others, and settled at a place called Agawam.
Mr. Pinchin, as he is called in the account, went to the " Conec-
tico" to better his estate by trading with the Indians, and they
engaged particularly in the beaver trade, till tbe " merchants en-
creased so many that it became little worth, by reason of their
out buying one another, which caused them to live on husband
ry." He was dismissed to the Winsor church, till they should
form a church themselves. This was in 1636.
" Afterwards he wrote a dialogue concerning justification which
was printed anno 1650, stiled the meretorious price, a book full
of errors and weaknesse and some Heresy, which the general
court of Massachusetts condemned to be burnt, and appointed Mr.
Norton, the teacher at Ipswich, to refute the errors contained
therein." It is said by a clergyman of this day who seems to
endorse the judgment of the court, that " the grand error of this
book consisted in regarding the sufferings of Christ as merely
' trials of his obedience,' and of course it was the first heretical
work on the Atonement that was written in this country." The
great and general court, to show they had not forgotten the les
sons taught them in England, and as if they were a body cleri
cal, drew up and passed a very long and virulent Protest, "to sat-

128 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
isfy all men that the court did utterly decline and detest it as
erroneous and dangerous." They ordered the book to be burned
by the executioner in the market place immediately after Lecture,
(the time when they used to hang men,) summoned Pynchon to
appear, and promised to " proceed with'' him if he did not retract
and give full satisfaction by another book to be printed here and
in England. He did make some explanation or retraction in
May, 1651 and he appeared before the court again in the fall of
that year. But the court suspended its sentence, and Pynchon,
probably fearing what might come from them, returned to En
gland. He well knevv what it was to encounter heresy-haters of
the school of Dudley. The colony had furnished him some les
sons. He fled for safety from their persecution to the place
whence persecution had driven them.
He died in England, at Wraisbury, in October, 1662, aged 72
or 74.
Pynchon was highly esteemed at the lime the colony came
out. He was chosen assistant in 1628. He was one of the most
influential men in settling the colony. He was at one time its
Treasurer, and was esteemed for his piety, learning, integrity and
ability. His daughter Anna married Henry Smith, son to Mrs. Samford
by a former husband, "a wise and godly young man," who went
lo Agawam. Margaret married captain William Davis. Mary
married Mr. Edward Holyoke, son of Mr. Holyoke of Lynn, "Mr.
Pynchon's antient friend."
I can find no trace of the place of Mr. Pynchon's residence.
Thomas Rawlings came with the first company in 1630. He
brought his wife Mary, and his children, Thomas, Mary, Joan,
Nathaniel and John. He removed lo Scituate.
John Remington, had lot on the Brookline road.
Edivard Riggs, freeman in 1634, married Elizabeth Rooke in
1635 ; she was buried October, 1635. Lydia was buried in Au
gust, 1633 ; Elizabeth, buried May, 1634, and John in October,
1634. The death of Elizabeth, wife of Edward Riggs, is record
ed in 1669.
Thomas Roone married Hannah Rowe, April 15, 1644.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 129
John Roberts came in 1636 and brought his wife Elizabeth, his
aged mother and his children, Thomas, Edward, Eliza, Margery,
Jane, Alice, Lidia, Ruth and Debora. "He was one of the first
fruits of Wales." He died in 1650. "Old mother Roberts," the
Welchwoman, died in 1646, aged one hundred and three.
John Ruggles, or Ruggells, a shoe-maker, aged 44, and his
wife Barbara, aged 30, came in the Hopewell, in 1635, in the
month of April. "He joined the Church soon after his coming.
He was a lively Christian, known to many of the Church in Old
England, when they met socially together." He was made free
man in 1637. He brought his son with him. In the list of pas
sengers, there are named John Ruggles, aged 2, and John Rug
gles, aged 10. One of them was probably the son of Thomas.
John lived beyond Stony River, on the Brookline road. His
wife died llth mo., 1636. He died 6th, 8th mo., 1664. He left
three sons, John, Thomas and Samuel. His estate was £343.
Thomas Ruggles, an elder brother of John, came in 1637, with
Mary, his wife. He was made freeman in 1639. "They were
both children of a godly father. He was as well known as his
brother." He brought over with him his children, Sarah and
Samuel. His first born child died in England. His second,
named John, was brought out as a servant lo Philip Eliot.-^
"Thomas had a great sicknesse the first year, but God recovered
him." He died in 1644, "a Godly brother."
John Ruggles, " the Son of Thomas," married Abigail Crafts
in 1650, January 24, died Sept. 15, 1658. He had sons John,
Thomas and Samuel.
Samuel Ruggles, another son of Thomas, and brother of the
preceding, had two or three acres on Pond hill. He married
Hannah Fowles in 1657. He vvas a representative of the town.
His wife Hannah and two children died in 1669.
John Ruggles, had a son John -, his wife was Mary ; he was
brother in law .to Edward Bridges. One John Ruggles was
freeman in 1632.
John Scarboro was freeman in 1640. An infant of his named
John, died in 1642. Hannah, born Dec. 3, 1643. He had also .
17

130 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
Samuel, born Jan. Jan. 20, 1645. He was slain the 4th of the
9th month, 1646, "charging a great gunnee."
Eobert Seaver, freeman in 1637, married Elizabeth Allard in
1634. He had children, Shubael, born Jan. 31, 1639 ; Caleb,
born 1641; Joshua, born 1641; and Nathaniel, baptized Jan. 8,
1645. His wife died in 1656. He died in 1682. His home
stead was on the River.
Edmund Shefiield married Mary Woody in 1644. John was
born in 1644.
John Smith married Catharine Morrell in 1647.
Abraham Smith.
Francis Smith, Andrew, his son, died in 1639. He had a
house and three and an half acres towards Dorchester.
Robert Starkweather. Elizabeth was baptized in 1643 ; Lydia,
born June 23, 1644.
Martin Stebbins married Jane Green in 1639. His daughter
Hannah was born in 1640; Mary, born Feb. 1, 1642; Nathaniel,
born March 22, 1644.
John Stebbins mdiXueSi Ann Munke in 1644. "She was so vio
lent of passion, that she offered violence to her husband, which
being of such infamy she was cast out of church."
John Siowe brought his wife Elizabeth and six children, Thom
as, Elizabeth, John, Nathaniel, Samuel, Thankful. He was
made freeman in 1634, and was a representative in 1639. His
wife died in 1638. His son Samuel graduated at Harvard in
1645. He died in 1643, " an old Kentish man."
John Stonehard, (or Stonnard) died in 1649. He was here in
1645, when he made a mortgage of his house and lands, which
was discharged, in the margin of the record, in 1646.
Thomas Stowe married MaryGragg in 1639. In 1648 he had
removed to Concord. He owned two houses and sold them to
John Pierpont for £110.
Hugh Tho'mas had a place on the road leading to Brookline.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 131
Thoynas Thome, His children, Desire and Truth, were bap
tized March 22, 1644.
Philip Tory married Mary Scarboro in 1647. Joseph was
born July 2, 1649.
John Totman. His son Jabesh was born Nov. 19, 1641. His
house was on the highway leading to the pond, beyond William
Curtis'. William Toy married Grace Newell in 1644.
John Trumble, freeman in 1640, probably went to Rowley.
John Turner had a daughter Elizabeth in 1647. Goodwife
Turner died 8th 7th mo. 1647.
William Vassaile was a gentleman of good circumstances in
England, and one of the assistants. He came out first in the
Lion, in 1630, but returned to England and came back —
and settled in Scituate, where he owned an estate known as
Belle Neck. He again returned to England, but came back in
1635, in the Blessing, to this country, and from thence he went
to Barbadoes, where he died. He brought with him in 1635, his
wife Anna, and Judith, Francis, John, Margaret and Mary. —
Though a member of the Church, he is said to have been op
posed to the ways of our Churches, and "a busy and factious
spirit." Just before Vassaile went to England in 1646, Rev. Mr.
Cotton preached at the Thursday Lecture in Boston, and said if
any person should carry any writings or complaints against the
people of God, to England, it would be as Jonas in the ship, and
advised shipmasters, in case any storms should arise, to search
and see if they had not such in some trunk, or somewhere, and
if they found any to cast it overboard. A storm did arise, and
an old woman applied to Vassaile to see if he had any Jonas,
and he told her he had only a petition of people to Parliament
that they might enjoy their liberties as English subjects. She
insisted on finding the Jonas, and was at last shown a copy of a
petition presented to Court at Boston, and threw it overboard.
But it is said the storm did not abate as was reported. They
had storms after, and the genuine petition was not thrown over,
but a mere copy.

132 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I.
Samuel Wakeman came in 1631. He was one of the first
foundation of the church. His only child died at sea on the voy
age hither.
Thomas Waterman lost his wife Ann in 1641. He died in 1676.
Dorcas Walker died in 1640.
John Watson, married Alice Prentis, widow of Valentine
Prentiss, in 1634. They had children, John, born January,
1634 : Joshua, born Aug. 1637, died 1639 ; Dorcas, born 1639 ;
Caleb, born 1641 ; Mary, born May 2, 1643. Farmer supposes
he may have removed to Cambridge, but it was more probably his
son who went there. He died in Roxbury in 1693.
Mr, Thomas Welde, or Weld, the first pastor of the first church,
received the degree A. B. at Trinity College in Cambridge Uni
versity in 1613, and A. M. in 1618. He arrived in this country
June 5th, 1632, in the William and Frances. He had been a
minister at Sterling, Essex, England. He was chosen pastor of
the first church. After many importunings and days of humilia
tion by those of Boston and Roxbury, to seek the Lord for Mr.
Weld's disposing, the advice of the Plymouth people being
taken, he resolved to set down at Roxbury, and entered on his
duties in July, 1632. He is sometimes named as colleague to
Mr. Eliot, and settled afterwards. But he was first settled. In
the list of ministers Master Weld is Pastor, Master Eliot, Teach
er. The duties of Pastor were, " to exhort and to rule. The
teachers were to instruct in knowledge and also to rule." "Many
were esteemed excellent teachers whom they would not invest
with the pastoral care."
No account of the first pastor is given in the church records.
Mr. Weld, however, took a conspicuous part in the affaiirs of the
day. It is said that he was amongst the most. active and bitter
in the cruel persecution of Anne Hutchinson. In 1637, she was
comtnitted to his custody. He was one of the most. influential
men at that period, and was, of course, looked to for his position
and learning. No doubt his own honest opinions and principles
le'd him to take an active part in the religious controversies. It
was a time when men made a boast of their own bigotry and in
tolerance. But it is hard lo conceive how men of his stamp

Part I.J history of roxbury. 133
should so soon have forgotten why they came to this country, or
how they could ever have been guilty of oftering violence to oth
ers for difference of opinion, unless there be in human nature a
pronenessto retaliation. But the censures that belong to the
time must not be visited upon the man, except in so far as he, be
ing above others, ought the more to have been above their errors
and follies. The Massachusetts colony has on its early history
a slain, which, more than any other, all would erase. But there
does not appear to have been any thing else that shoiild be
deemed a blot on the character of Mr. Weld.
Tbe church prospered under the united labor of Mr. Weld and
Eliot. In 1640-1, the colony thought advisable to have agents in En
gland, and they chose three clergymen to go, Hugh Peters, Mr.
Weld, and Mr. Hibbins, of Boston. "The governor moved the
church for him, and, after some time of consideration, ihey freely
yielded." He went by way of Newfoundland, where he preached
to the seamen on the Island, and got a passage from that Island
to England in a fishing vessel.
In 1646, Weld was dismissed from his agency, but he did not
return to New England. He was afterwards settled as minister
at Gateshead. He went to Ireland with Lord Forbes, but return
ed again to England. He is named amongst the ministers eject
ed in 1662. The time of his death is uncertain.
Mr. Weld published, in 1664, " a short story of the Rise, Reign
and Ruin of the Antinomians, Familists and Libertines, that in
fected the churches of New England." He was the author of
some other tracts. He aided Eliot and Mather in the New En
gland version of the Psalms.
Whilst in Roxbury, Mr. Weld lived East of the Town street.
In Eliot's letters to England we find him soliciting aid to enable
him to purchase Weld's library, from which it may be inferred
that he was well supplied with literary tools.
¦ Mr. Weld's children were John, who was a minister in En
gland ; Edmund, who graduated at Harvard in 1650; Thomas,
who married Dorothy Whiting in 1650, and was made freeman
in 1654, chosen clerk of the writs in 1666, and was, several
¦years, a representative, and a man of influence in town. Mr.
Weld may have had other children.

134 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT I.j
The children of his son Thomas, through whom the family
here traces its descent, were Samuel, who died in 1653; Thomas,
born 1653 ; Samuel, born 1655 ; John, born 1657, died 1686 ;
Edmund, born 1659; Daniel; Dorothy; Joseph; and Margaret.
Thomas owned the Training Field.
Joseph Weld, was made freeman in 1636. He was brother lo
the first minister. His son Edmund was born July 14th, 1636.
His wife Elizabeth died in 1638. In 1639, he married Barbary
Clap. They had children, Sarah, baptized Dec. 21, 1640; Dan
iel, born Sept. 18, 1642, and graduated at Harvard College, 1661,
studied divinity, and died at Salem; Joseph, baptized and died
in 1645 ; Marah, born 1645 : Thomas died Sept. 9, 1649. He
had other children, -iim-ri-f tn.. .di-'-ni^^f- J-^a/., .''.J
Joseph Weld was captain, representative from 1636, for .five
years. He was a rich man and kept store on the street. His
property was valued at £2028 : 11 : 03. He died the 8th of 7th
month, 1646. His widow married Anthony Stoddard of Boston.
Sarah married John Ffranck of Boston, and Marah married
Comfort Starr.
John Weld, was born in England, Oct. 28, 1623, and came to
New England in 1638. He was made freeman in 1650. He
was son of the preceding, and had a brother Edward. He mar
ried Margaret Bowen in 1647. His son Joseph was born June
6, 1649, and died when only seventeen days old ; another child
of the same name was baptized Sept. 13, 1650. His house was
next to Robert Seaver's land, bounded on the brook and the high
way to Bare Marsh. He died Sept. 20, 1691.
Daniel Weld was admitted freeman in 1641. He was admit
ted to our Church in 1651, being recommended from the Church
at Braintree. His wife Alice died at Braintree in 1647. Irji
1654, he was chosen by the town "to record births and burialls,"
and in 1654, clerk of the writs. He had a son Benjamin in
1655. A daughter of his was born at Braintree in 1643. He
settled at first on the Street, where he had a lot of three quarters
of an acre on the East side of the Street, next to the Training
field, between Richard Woody's and Thomas Weld's, but he af-

Part I.J history of roxburv. 136
lerwards bought a place of John Rawson, near Stony River
Bridge, where he died July 22, 1666, at ihe age of 81.
His will, which was executed but a few days before his death,
names his wife Ann, Joseph and Bethial, also Timothy Hyde, a
child of his wife.
Daniel Weld was Teacher of the School.
Laurence Whittamore came with his wife, in the Hopewell, in
April, 1635, freeman 1637. His wife died 13th of the 12th
month, 1642. He died the 18th of 7th month, 1644, "an antient
Christian of 80 years of age." I find no other trace of him,
save in connection with the Free School, to which he gave all
his estate, which is now very valuable.
Robert Williams, who is said to have been of Welch origin,
came from Norwich, England, and was admitted freeman in
1638. His wife was named Elizabeth. They had a son Isaac,
born Sept. 1, 1638; and Stephen, born Nov. 28, 1640. Another
son, Samuel, who was afterwards deacon, was born before, in
England. Thomas was born afterwards. Robert, it is said, is
the "common ancestor of the divines, civilians and warriors of
this name who have honored the country of their birth." His
homestead of five acres was towards Dorchester. Some of his
estate remained in the hands of his descendants till 1826. Rob
ert Williams was one of the most influential men in town affairs.
Hannah Wilson died 12th of 9th, 1645.
Thomas Willson came 4th month, 1633, and brought children,
Humphrey, Samuel, Joshua. Debora was born 1644, and Lidea
in 1636. "He was a familist afterwards, but repented." He re
moved from Roxbury.
Nathaniel Wilson married Hannah Crafts in 1644. They had
twins, Hannah and Mary, in 1647.
Edviard White had son Zattariah, born 1642 ; Samuel, born
Feb. 27th, 1644.
Richard Woody, freeman 1642, married Frances Dexter in
1646. His son Thomas died in 1650. His house was next the

136 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT 1.
training place, between Mr. Eliot's and Daniel Weld's. He died
in 1658.
John Woody died in 1650.
Nicholas Woody had twins, Mary and Sarah, born Dec. 26th,
1642. Thomas Woodford, man servant, came in 1632, married Mary
Blatt, rhaid servant, who came out the same year. They re
moved to Hartford, Conn.
/7 ^
Nearly all the original emigrants to this country, had gone by
the year 1700.
In 1646, "died Egbor, an Indian who had lived ten years with
the English, and could read."
The same year, died "Nan, Mr. Weld's captive Indian, he
was hopeful."

CHAPTER X.
General View of the Toion.
Having thus noticed the first generation of the in
habitants of the town, let us see what was the gen
eral appearance of the town in those early days.
Though there is no account of the first year or two, it
is easy to itnagine what it must have been during that
time. The first settlement was upon the bay which
lies to the south of Boston neck, and which was long
known as Roxbury Bay.
No record is preserved of the first laying out of the
town. There probably was no allotment of lands to
the very first comers. After that, the lands were sur
veyed and set out regularly.
In 1633, three years after the first arrival, we have
this description of the town ;
" A mile from this town, (Dorchester) lieth Roxberry. which is
" a fair and handsome country-town, the inhabitants of it being
" all very rich. This town lieth upon the main, so that it is well
"wooded and watered, having a clear and fresh brook running
" through the town, up which, although there come no alewives,
" yet there is great store of smelts and therefore it is called
" Smelt Brook, A quarter of a mile lo the north side of the
" town is another river, called Stony River, upon which is built a
" water mill. Here is good ground for corn and meadow for cat-
" lie. Up westward from the town it is something rocky;
" whence it hath the name of Roxberry. The inhabitants have
18

138 HISTORY or ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
"fair houses, store of cattle, impaled corn-fields, and fruitful gar-
" dens. Here is no harbor for ships, because ihe tovim is seated
" in the bottom of a shallow bay, which is made by the neck of
"land on which Boston is built; so that they can transport all
" their goods from the ships in boats from Boston, which is ihe
" nearest harbor."
The first buildings were probably upon what was
then called and is still known as the Towne Streete,
or Roxbury Street. It was near a good stream of
water. The neck, with a bay on each side, was a
favorable position for defence.
The dwellings gradually extended to the point;
across the brook, and towards Dorchester, and up in
the direction of Warren and Walnut streets ; and
round, by the old road over the hill by the first church,
to the mill on Stony river, and on to Muddy river;
and further up into the centre of the town, towards
Dedham, and into the country between Dorchester
and Dedham roads. The other streets, then most
frequented, such as the road to Gamblin's End, Que-
necticot lane, that to the mill at the great pond, have
now become quite retired. Some, like that from the
Plain towards Brookline, West of the great hill,
have long been closed.
In those days the highways were let for pasturage,
by the year. For many years, a point on the street
was known as " Boston Gates," The way ''leading
to the landing place," was fenced across to keep in
the cattle. A jjair of bars stood at the entrance of
the way to the " Calves Pasture," which is now a
great highway towards Dorchester, and also the road
leading to Bare marsh, and Rocky .swamp. Indeed,
I believe that was the case with all the roads in town.

Part I.J history of roxbury. 139
The town used to fix the rent by vote at the annual
town nif^eting, and the constables collected it.
In 1636, a law was passed that no person should
live beyond half a mile from the meeting house.
The following petition, which was made before
1643, indicates that most were within that distance,
which was proper for defence.
The humble petition of some of ye inhabitants of Roxbury, to
this honored Court.
Whereas, it has pleased this honord court to make a whole
some law for this country, that none should build above half a
mile from ye meetins; house, and we partly out of ye necessity
of the situation of our town, wh is so narrow, and inlarged but
one way, and partly out of ignorance of ye law, have builded
somewhat farder than is by this law allowd, among such neigh
bors as were to be built before this law was maide, we doe hum
bly petition ye favor of this honord court that sd action might not
be offensive, but yt wee might have allowans to continue the sd
habitations, wh we cannot possibly alter without removing from
ye town, there being noe place neare ye meeting bowse to re
ceive us. And thus entreating your favor, we leave you lo the
guiJans of the blessed God, and rest Your humble petitioners,
Ralph Jasper Gun,
Gary Robert Seaver,
Abraham How,
John Tatman.
Considering ye necessity of the request of these brethren, we
who have the disposeing of the towne affairs doe joyne wh them
to make this humble reque.st to this honord court.
Thomas Lambe,
Joseph Weld,
John Johnson,
William Perkins,
John Stow.
No order appears on this petition. It is not known
when the law was repealed, or that it ever was. It

140 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I.
is certain that, within a very few years, there were
many who lived more than the prescribed distance
from the church.
From the beginning, the chief roads in the town
seem to have been regularly laid out, though very
many of the highways in the town were ways of ne
cessity, and formed as convenience required.
In 1652, the five men with a committee of three.
more were appointed for setting and staking out high
ways, with full powers to settle all matters concern
ing them.
In 1656, " the same day for stakeing out of all the
" hiewayes, in towne, there was a committee chosen
" and fully impowered by the same, to settle matters,
" concerning all hiewayes, according to the towns act
"¦when the land was laid out."
1658. Griffin Crafts had " leave to set up a gate
on Muddy River lane to keepe off the presse of cattle."
From 1650 to 1662, several cases show that not
only the breadth and direction, but even the very ex
istence of some of the highways had become ques
tionable. By a town law, each man was entitled to a high
way to his own house.
In 1661, the town let the "feede of the lane to
the landing place to Robert Pierrepoynt, for fower
shillings per annum, provided none of the inhabitants
are to "be prohibited to lett their cattle feede as they
goe ito and fro for clay, or upon other just occasions,
they feeding only in the lane, and whilst they are
there necessarily eaiployed, and in the cart, and not
otherwise."

Part I.J aisTORr of roxburt. I'll
The town passed various acts to have the . high
ways examined, but without eftect till in 1663, it ap
pointed five men, and "for their encouragement"
gave them four shillings a man for this service, and
laid them under a penalty of two pounds ten shillings
if they did not finish the work by the first of January
next. Accordingly a survey was had, and report at
length was made that year, which is the one that is
to be examined concerning the highways in existence
at that time.
Amongst the roads four rods wide, were that to
Muddy River, (Washington street ;) Quenecticote
Lane, (Perkins street ;) the road from Heath's Lane
towards Dedhatn, (Centre street ;) the road from
John Stebbin's orchard, by Edward Bugby's, to the
end of the great lots next Gamblin's End, and so to
Rocky Swamp ; the way to the great lots and fresh
meadow, (Walnut street ;) the way to Brantry,
(Warren street ;) from Hugburne's Corner to Boston,
and that from Eliot's Corner to Dorchester Brook,
(Dudley street and Eustis street.)
Those that were two rods, were that from Pier
pont's to the landing place, (Parker street, East of
Brookline road ;) that from Mrs. Remington's, back
of Ruggles and Eliot, to Dedham Highway, (Parker
street,) over the Hill ; that by Peleg Heath's into
Dedham highway, by Jacob Newell's ; that from El
der Heath's by Stony River, to Gamblin's End,
(School street;) that from Gamblin's End to the
Pond lots, (Boylston street ;j from John Leavin's
heirs to Desd Swamp ; from the way that leads from
the Boston road by the burying place to the road

142 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I.
from Roxbury to Dorchester, (Eustis street;) from
the TraJniag Place, next Dorchester road, down to
the Salt Panns, and that landing place, (Davis st. ;)
from Giles Pavson's to Robert William's and into
Brantry Way ; from Mr. Adam's to the mills ; and
the way to Baker's Mill ; and the way to Gravelly
Point, (Ruggles street.)
It is needless to speak of the religious character of
the people. As for the education of the town, we
have already seen that ample provision was made for
it. Most of the people were of good, and some of
them of eminent families and of considerable cultiva
tion. Roxbury sent many to Harvard College. —
Though the space of time does not seem very long
that has elapsed, one is surprised, in the old lists, to
find how few books they had. And yet, education
may have been as well attained, for comparison of our
times with those of the ancients, might almost lead
to the conclusion that sound learning decreased with
the multiplicity of books. Thus Thomas Dudley,
who was a vast reader, (heluo librorum) had in his
study less than fifty volumes. Amongst them were
Livius, Camdeni Annales, Abstract of the Penal
Statutes, Peirce Plowman, Apology of the Prince of
Orange, Cotton's bloody tenets washed. Cotton's
holynesse of Church members and Commentary on
the Commandments, &c.
Daniel Weld, a "schollar," had in Bibles and other
Divinity Books, £4.
It has already been remarked that the people were
wealthy, and some account has been given of various
estates. It must be borne in mind, however, that

Part I.J history of roxbury. 14;3
estimates are not to be made by the standard of the
present day. As late as "1678, in New York, which
then had less than three hundred and fifty houses, a
merchant worth £1000 or £500, was deemed a good
substantial merchant, and a planter worth half that
sum, vvas accounted rich." Judged by the mark of
that day, Roxbury had a great number of very opu
lent citizens.
In 1654, the town is thus described: "situated be-
" tween Boston and Dorchester, being well watered
" with coole and pleasant Springs issuing forth the
" Rocky-hills, and with small Freshets, watering the
" Vallies of this fertill Towne, whose forme is some-
'• what like a wedge double pointed, entering be-
" tweene the two foure named Townes, filled with a
" laborious people, whose labours the Lord hath so
" blest, that, in the roome of dismall swamps and
" tearing bushes, they have very goodly Fruit-trees,
" fruitfull fields and gardens, their Heard of Cows,
" Oxen and other young Cattell of that kind about
" 350 and dwelling houses near upon 120. Their
" Streetes are large, and some fayre howses, yet have
" they built their Howse for Church-assembly desti-
" tute and unbeautified with other buildings. The
"church of Christ is here increased to about 120
" persons," &c.
The emigration to New England ceased almost
entirely about 1640. Though a lew came over from
the old countries after that time, yet most of the new
settlers in Roxbury, came from other parts of this
country.

144 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT I.J
Some of the original residents removed to other
places, as did many of their descendants. Several
towns were founded by Roxbury citizens.
Mann, in his Annals of Dedham, states that "the
" orisinal founders of Dedham came from Watertown
O
"and Roxbury," in 1636.
In 1636, the. time of the emigration to the Con
necticut, a colony "from Roxbury (the principal of
" whom were Mr. William Pynchon, and one John
" Bur, a carpenter,) settled, at least laid the founda-
" tion of a plantation, called by the Indians, Aga-
" wam, but named by the English afterwards Spring-
" field, in rembrance of Mr. Pynchon, who had his
" mansion house at a town of that name, near
" Chelmsford, in Essex." Many went to various
towns in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts,
where there are many of their descendants.
"In 1667, liberty was granted for erecting a new
plantation or township, at a place about thirty or
forty miles West from Roxbury called Mendon, and
peopled by some that removed from thence. There
was another like grant the same year at Brookfield, a
commodious place for entertainment of travellers, be
twixt the Massachusetts and Connecticut, situate
about twenty-five miles from Springfield, towards
Boston; the liberty had been granted before in 1660,
but it was renewed this year, six or seven families
being settled there, the grantees having forfeited
their first grant." "These two last named villages
were erected in an unhappy hour, for before ten years
were expired, they were utterly ruined and destroyed

Part I.J history of roxbury. 145
by the Indians, and not one stick left standing of any
building erected there."
In Niles' history ol the Indian and French wars,
it is said "Deserted Mendon was this same winter
(1674) laid in ashes."
In 1683, the town accepted the grant, which was
made to them that year, of a tract seven miles square,
at Quatosset, in the country of the Nipmucks. This
was, soon after, called New Roxbury, and is now the
Town of Woodstock, in the North-east part of the
State of Connecticut, near Dudley, in Massachusetts.
Some of the localities in Woodstock still bear the old
names of places in Roxbury. This township was
bounded by Woodward and Gaffeny's line, and was
afterwards found to be in Connecticut.
The first settlers of Woodstock were, as has been
remarked, all from Roxbury, and the records of the
foundation, settlement, titles, division, and the first
settlers of the place are preserved, very full and mi
nute, in Roxbury. But the history cannot be given
here. In 1668, Worcester was granted to Daniel Gookin
and others.
Oxford, then " a tract eight miles square in the
Nipmug country," was granted to Joseph Dudley and
others in 1682.
Woodstock was named from " its nearness to Ox-
" ford, for the sake of queen Elizabeth, and the nota-
" ble meetings that have been held at the place bear-
" ing that name in England."
In 1686, several native Indians conveyed to Joshua
Lamb, Nathaniel Paige, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin
19

146 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. Part I.J
Gamblin, John Curtis, Richard Draper, Samuel Rug
gles and Ralph Bradish, "a tract of land eight miles
square near the English town of Wooster." This is
the present town of Hardwicke, The original deed is
still preserved in Roxbury. The price paid was £20.
Dudley, in this state, was granted to and named
for governor Joseph Dudley. He got also the Indian
title. Ancient plans, letters from these towns, deeds, &c.
are found in Roxbury.
Besides those towns which were founded and set
tled by Roxbury, others had some of their chief set
tlers from Roxbury; such as Scituate, Braintree,
Newbury, and several others in Massachusetts and
Connecticut. Thus Roxbury was not only abundantly prosperous
herself, but was the worthy parent of a very respec
table and somewhat numerous progeny, of towns.

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